avorable opinion of us, a woman would
bring out a shellful of the precious fluid from I know not where.

The so-called Desert, it may be observed, is by no means a useless
tract of country. Besides supporting multitudes of both small and large
animals, it sends something to the market of the world, and has proved
a refuge to many a fugitive tribe--to the Bakalahari first, and to the
other Bechuanas in turn--as their lands were overrun by the tribe of
true Caffres, called Matebele. The Bakwains, the Bangwaketze, and the
Bamangwato all fled thither; and the Matebele marauders, who came from
the well-watered east, perished by hundreds in their attempts to follow
them. One of the Bangwaketze chiefs, more wily than the rest, sent false
guides to lead them on a track where, for hundreds of miles, not a drop
of water could be found, and they perished in consequence. Many Bakwains
perished too. Their old men, who could have told us ancient stories,
perished in these flights. An intelligent Mokwain related to me how the
Bushmen effectually balked a party of his tribe which lighted on their
village in a state of burning thirst. Believing, as he said, that
nothing human could subsist without water, they demanded some, but were
coolly told by these Bushmen that they had none, and never drank any.
Expecting to find them out, they resolved to watch them night and day.
They persevered for some days, thinking that at last the water must
come forth; but, notwithstanding their watchfulness, kept alive by most
tormenting thirst, the Bakwains were compelled to exclaim, "Yak! yak!
these are not men; let us go." Probably the Bushmen had been subsisting
on a store hidden under ground, which had eluded the vigilance of their
visitors.

Chapter 3.

Departure from Kolobeng, 1st June, 1849--Companions--Our Route--
Abundance of Grass--Serotli, a Fountain in the Desert--Mode of
digging Wells--The Eland--Animals of the Desert--The Hyaena--The
Chief Sekomi--Dangers--The wandering Guide--Cross Purposes--Slow
Progress--Want of Water--Capture of a Bushwoman--The Salt-pan
at Nchokotsa--The Mirage--Reach the River Zouga--The Quakers of
Africa--Discovery of Lake Ngami, 1st August, 1849--Its Extent--Small
Depth of Water--Position as the Reservoir of a great River System--The
Bamangwato and their Chief--Desire to visit Sebituane, the Chief of the
Makololo--Refusal of Lechulatebe to furnish us with Guides--Resolve
to return to the Cape--The Banks of