When they wish to draw water for use, the women come with twenty or thirty of their water-vessels in a bag or net on their backs.

These water-vessels consist of ostrich egg-shells, with a hole in the end of each, such as would admit one's finger.

The women tie a bunch of grass to one end of a reed about two feet long, and insert it in a hole dug as deep as the arm will reach; then ram down the wet sand firmly round it.

Applying the mouth to the free end of the reed, they form a vacuum in the grass beneath, in which the water collects, and in a short time rises into the mouth.

An egg-shell is placed on the ground alongside the reed, some inches below the mouth of the sucker.