Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
2nd July 1779
transcription
[2nd July 1779]
2
term 52 - 70 - 64 mooy weer even n:o:
vertrok te Paart na de Pont. het velt was week door de regen. de bloemen, als ixiaas en oxellussen beginnen te bloeien.
arriveerde na drie uren rydens aan bergrivier die vol egter aan het vallen was. passeerde met de pont, en sliep aan de pontmans huis, Joubert. dese passagie hiet vleer muise drift. de wagen bleef er voor.
schoot vandaag een vale swaluw die hier de winter overblyven, egter siet men se niet veel. hier zyn so ver weet, vier soorten swaluwen, drie zyn in den winter onsigtbaar. dog de vale blyft. en schynt niet menigvuldig. houdende veel omtrent bergen en oevers. zy maakt een hol open nest onder de daken aan huisen. en jaagt dikwels de andere swaluwen.
translation
[2nd July 1779]
2
Thermometer: 52-70-64.
Fine weather, light north east wind.
Left on horseback for the ferry. Because of the rain the veld was sodden. Flowers such as ixia, lilies and oxalis are beginning to bloom. After three hours riding arrived at the Berg River which was full although beginning to subside. Crossed over with the ferry and slept at Joubert the ferryman’s house. This crossing is called Vleermuis drift. The wagon kept ahead. Today shot a grey swallow, which spends the winter here though one does not see them often. As far as I know there are four kinds of swallow here. Three are not seen in winter, yet the grey remains. There never appear to be many of them; they mostly keep to the mountains and river banks. They make a hollow, open-sided nest under roofs and often chase the other swallows.