Whatever Their History, Their Use Is Unquestionable - Not So The Flavour Of Their Contents; For Every Bird Or Beast Coming To Water Will Leave Some Traces Behind, And The Natives, To Prevent Evaporation, Throw In Sticks, Stones, And Grass.

Such a collection of rubbish and filth might naturally be supposed to render the water unhealthy, but apparently this

Is not the case, for we have often been forced to drink water, which, in civilisation would be thought only fit to be used as manure for the garden, without any injury to health or digestion. Patient search over the whole surface of the rock is the usual method for finding rock-holes, though sometimes the pads of wallabies, kangaroos, or emus, may serve as a guide to them, but game is so scarce that a man must usually trust to his own observation. Sometimes their existence may be detected from a distance by the patch of rock round the mouth showing white, owing to its being worn by the feet of birds and animals.

A typical rock was the high, barren "Cowarna," and one that after rain would store in its depressions a plentiful supply of the life-giving water. Thankful for small mercies, I made the best of a bad job, and, having no dish or bucket from which to give Satan a drink, I was obliged to make him lie down close to the narrow hole, whilst into his willing throat I poured the water which at arm's length I scooped up with my quart pot.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 84 of 468
Words from 23215 to 23471 of 127189