on the sandy shore; following along by the water’s edge, we felt cooled and refreshed by the sea air, and in one mile and a half from where we had descended the cliffs, we reached the white sand-drifts.  Upon turning into these to search for water, we were fortunate enough to strike the very place where the natives had dug little wells; and thus on the fifth day of our sufferings, we were again blessed with abundance of water,—­nor could I help considering it as a special instance of the goodness of Providence, that we had passed the sandy valley in the dark, and had thereby been deterred from descending to examine the sand-hills it contained; had we done so, the extra fatigue to our horses and the great length of time it would have taken up, would probably have prevented the horses from ever reaching the water we were now at.  It took us about two hours to water the animals, and get a little tea for ourselves, after which the boy laid down to sleep, and I walked round to search for grass.  A little grew between the sand-drifts and the cliffs, and though dry and withered, I was most thankful to find it.  I then returned to the camp and laid down, but could not sleep, for although relieved myself, my anxiety became but the greater, for the party behind, and the more so, because at present I could do nothing to aid them; it was impossible that either the horses, or ourselves, could go back to meet them without a few hours’ rest, and yet the loss of a few hours might be of the utmost consequence; I determined, however, to return and meet them as early as possible in the morning, and in the mean time, as I knew that the overseer and natives would, when they came, be greatly fatigued, and unable to dig holes to water the horses, I called up the boy, and with his assistance dug two large holes about five feet deep, from which the horses could readily and without delay be watered upon their arrival.  As we had only some shells left by the natives to work with, our wells progressed slowly, and we were occupied to a late hour.  In the evening we watered the horses, and before laying down ourselves, drove them to the grass I had discovered.  For the first time for many nights, I enjoyed a sound and refreshing sleep.

Chapter XVI.

Go back to meet the overseer—­party arrive at the water—­long
encampment—­geological formation of the cliffs—­move on again—­dig for
water—­traces of natives—­send back for water—­parrots seen—­cool winds
from north-east—­overseer returns—­continue the journey—­abandon
baggage—­dense scrubs—­driven to the beach—­meet natives—­mode of
procuring water from roots.