On Arrival At Camp We Found That Our Companions Had Been
So Successful In "Soak-Sucking," I.E., Baling And
Scraping up the
miserable trickle of water as it soaks into the "caisson," that by
sunset we were able to
Give the camels eight gallons each, and two
gallons extra to Misery, who was showing signs of a rapid recovery.
Luckily there was a little patch of dry herbage not far from the well,
and a few acacias over the ridge. All the next day we were occupied in
"soak-sucking," and Warri went back for Misery's saddle, which had been
thrown off. I took the opportunity of writing up my diary - anything but a
pleasant job, for shade there was none, except in a reclining position
under our solitary ti-tree bush. The native's close proximity and the
swarm of flies, made the task quite hateful, for under the most
favourable conditions there are few things I dislike more than writing.
On September 28th I chronicled a most remarkable fact, viz., that the two
camels Satan and Redleap had had no more than thirteen gallons of water
in the preceding thirty-eight days - a wonderful exhibition of endurance
and pluck in this burning weather and barren country. It came about in
this way: -
August 22nd. At Woodhouse Lagoon they had a full drink in the morning.
August 29th. At Warri Well, where the parakeelia grew, two gallons in the
evening.
September 8th. At Patience Well they were the last to be watered, eight
gallons in the evening.
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