parched leather. Fear of meeting with the natives (from whom they expected no mercy) appeared to be the prevailing principle of the actions of most of the crew, which must have been very powerful in them, when it was superior to the prevailing calls of hunger and thirst. As we traversed the sandy desart, we searched in vain for some sorts of nourishment: there were neither roots nor vegetables fit for eating to be found. Our thirst increased every moment, but the hope of being able to assuage it, sustained us every step, and enabled us to travel on till the afternoon. We cast our eyes around, but could see nothing to rest our wearied sight upon but a boundless barren waste, extending on all sides. Such an horrid prospect threw us into the most shocking state of despair, and our exhausted spirits died within us; we no longer thought of continuing our hopeless and uncertain rout, in which we could not possibly foresee any end to our wants and miseries, except what we might have received upon the spot, where we then laid ourselves down, from death alone--not until this moment did my fortitude forsake me; the weight of my misfortunes had now become too heavy for my strength, or rather weakness, to support; I felt as if the earth I pressed had been heaped upon me! I exhorted my husband to leave me here, and to avail himself of the powers that he had yet remaining, to hasten forward to some inhabited part of the country, from whence he might have an opportunity of once more