Third Journey (MS 107/2)
1st October 1778
transcription
[1st October 1778]
1 Oct
hoorden enige jakhalsen. in den morgen en enigen van ons volk sagen een leeuwe spoor, hier was in het geheel geen houdt in het veld, so dat sy het uit enige klipheuvels moesten haalen en nog seer schaars, de klippen syn bruinagtige cos en leggen op die heuvels rond bloot en door een.
termometer met middernagt 27 gr, twe uur voor sons opgang 25 en met sons op: 32, het is seer kout geweest, dog in dit staand water byna geen ys gemaakt. z:o: even. schoon weer vertrokken n:o: t n. aan peilden de son
passeerden champagnes poorts riviertje dat nu liep, en daar de wagens om de modder met moeiten passeerden arriveerden na 10 9½ uren rydens aan een Valey dewelke de wets valey hieten, drie uren ossewagen rydens aan dese syde schuilhoek. Sagen vele noes, kwaggaas elanden spring en bontebokken kleine hasen patrysen eendvogels en kwartels schoten een noe kwagga en vier elanden. termometer rees tot 77 gr en daalden na son onder 60 gr.
cours n o t n vier myl sagen van gisteren af, teken vuuren en veld in brand steken der bosjemans of jagers hottentotten.
translation
[1st October 1778]
1st October
We heard a few jackals in the morning and some of our people saw the tracks of a lion. In general there was no wood in the veld here so that they had to fetch it from some stony hills, and it was still very scarce. The stones are a brownish Cos and lie scattered and exposed around the hills.
Thermometer at midnight 27 degrees, two hours before sunrise 25 degrees and at dawn 32 degrees It has been very cold though almost no ice formed in the standing water. Light south east wind. Fine weather.
Departed north east by north. Measured the sun. We passed the Champagnespoort rivulet which is flowing now, and where the wagons crossed with difficulty because of the mud. After travelling for nine and a half hours we arrived at a vlei which we called De Wett’s vlei; it was three hours travel by ox wagon this side of Schuijlhoek. Saw many gnus, quaggas, eland, spring and bontebok, small hares, partridges, duck and quail. We shot a gnu, quagga, and four eland.
Thermometer rose to 77 degrees and dropped to 60 degrees after sunset. Course north-east to north, four miles. Since yesterday we have seen signs of fires and veld set alight by Bushmen or hunting-Hottentots.