LAZY CA RA VAN MEN. 31
trouble to themselves that they had become too lazy to go even a short way to administer the coup de grace to any victim either of our rifles or of those of the Hindus.
Annoying as they were on this occasion, they were still more so on the next day when, instead of making an earlier start than usual, as ordered, the caravan did not set out till later than usual. Where our saddles or rifles were deposited at the end of the march, there they knew our tents would be pitched ; and it was their business to prevent any of the mules or ponies from approaching, but now they showed not the slightest inclination to keep the animals off. Pike was so provoked that he addressed them in strong language, of which they complained to me ; but I told them the wonder was that he had not beaten them.
The antelope in this neighbourhood were exceedingly tame, and from the very calm and leisurely way in which two large herds that I met between Camps 21 and 22 sauntered away after gazing long a couple of hundred yards from me, it was very evident that they were quite unfamiliar with human beings. As we were plentifully supplied with fresh meat for all hands, we refrained from slaughtering any of these unsuspicious beasts, who regarded the caravan close by with evident curiosity. Though grass • was in several places very abundant, water was exceedingly scarce ; but at one locality its presence was indicated from afar by the existence of a large disused sheep-pen. We surmised that men tending the sheep must have lived for some time close by, and they could not have done so unless there was water in the vicinity. Fortunately our surmise was correct, as a small spring of excellent water existed almost alongside the abandoned sheep-pen, affording a great contrast to the supply at our next camp, where the only water was that of a lake, so impregnated with soda, &c., as to be almost
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