One of the officers, who happened to be very thirsty, placed such confidence in their friendly manner, that he allowed them to conduct him alone to a small well near the beach, but the water was too salt to be drunk.

The force of habit is astonishing: natives drink this brackish fluid and find it very refreshing.

The small quantity that suffices them is also surprising, though they will drink enormously when they can get it.
MODES OF PROCURING WATER.
Their mode of procuring this necessary element is singular, and they exhibit in this particular much ingenuity and great fertility of resources.

They are never harassed with the idea of being without any; which not only distresses but adds to the horror of thirst with the European explorer, who has not experienced the constant watchfulness of Providence, and does not know that he may collect from the leaves, with a sponge, on some mornings, as much as a pint of water.

This has, however, been done, even on the south coast, where the dews are not so copious as on the north-west.