noon
A glass bottle that had once contained `` Cape Smoke , '' was thought by the latter to be of greater value than a gun ; and , taking their circumstances into account , they were perhaps not far astray in their estimate . Knowing that the longer they should be in reaching the next watering-place the weaker their cattle would become , our travellers strove to perform more than half the distance in less than half the time . On their first day 's journey after leaving the kraal , they went about twenty-five miles ; but on starting the next day they saw that not more than half that distance was likely to be accomplished , and that their principal work would consist in plying the jamboks . Towards noon they came upon a tract of country , the greater portion of which had once been flooded with brackish water , and was now slightly incrusted with salt . The reflection of the sun 's rays on this incrustation gave it the appearance of water ; and , on seeing it , the cattle , horses , and dogs rushed forward , anticipating a grand pleasure in quenching their thirst . On discovering what it was , the animals gave out their various expressions of disappointment . The horses neighed , the oxen bellowed , and the dogs barked and howled .