[Journals Of Expeditions Of Discovery Into Central Australia And by Edward John Eyre]@TWC D-Link bookJournals Of Expeditions Of Discovery Into Central Australia And CHAPTER XVII 8/27
Our last drop of water was consumed this evening, and we then all lay down to rest, after turning the horses behind the first ridge of the coast, as we could find no grass; and neither the overseer nor I were able to watch them, being both too much worn out with the labours of the day, and our exertions, in searching for water. March 30 .-- Getting up as soon as the day dawned, I found that some of the horses had crossed the sand ridge to the beach, and rambled some distance backwards.
I found, too, that in the dark, we had missed a patch of tolerable grass among the scrub, not far from our camp.
I regretted this the more, as during the night a very heavy dew had fallen, and the horses might perhaps have fed a little. Leaving the overseer to search for those that had strayed, I took a sponge, and went to try to collect some of the dew which was hanging in spangles upon the grass and shrubs; brushing these with the sponge, I squeezed it, when saturated, into a quart pot, which, in an hour's time, I filled with water.
The native boys were occupied in the same way; and by using a handful of fine grass, instead of a sponge, they collected about a quart among them.
Having taken the water to the camp, and made it into tea, we divided it amongst the party, and never was a meal more truly relished, although we all ate the last morsel of bread we had with us, and none knew when we might again enjoy either a drink of water, or a mouthful of bread.
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