Natives' smokes were seen mostly round the base of some other ridges to the south-east, which I determined to visit to-morrow; as the fires were there, natives must or should be also; and as they require water to exist, we might find their hidden springs.

It seemed evident that only in the hills or rocky reservoirs water could be found.
We slept under the shadow of a hill, and mounted to its top in the morning.

The view was anything but cheering; ridges, like islands in a sea of scrub, appeared in connection with this one; some distance away another rose to the south-east.

We first searched those near us, and left them in disgust, for those farther away.

At eight or nine miles we reached the latter, and another fruitless search was gone through.
We then went to another and another, walking over the stones and riding through the scrubs.