Journals

Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)

4th December 1777


transcription

[4th December 1777]
4

zeer goed weer heldere lugt s'morgens met een koele zuid ooste wind. ging de hoogte op na het bos daar aan de voet en in de vlakte vol doornbomen vond, dog zo als hoger quam, allerfraayste bomen van voornoemde soorten, mat er een die vier ellen onder om de stam had en omtrent vyftig voeten regte en gladde stam had als een denne boom, desen hieten zy hier geelhout, dit word tot huis bouwen en meubels gebruikt; hier houden zig apen als in het houteniquas bos, ook van die groene bos duiven, hier loeris genaamt, ook (zo men my zeide regte groene papagaayen hebbende cromme bekken) en meer andere fraaye vogels), dog konde er geen te zien krygen ook houden hier buffels, zag niets als twe dieren die na rebokken leken, keerde tegen den middag na de plaats van prinselo te rug, zynde de weg in het bos, zeer fatiguant geweest, zynde steil en vol doorns. dit gehele gebergte is een en deselve berg met de sneeuwbergen

[added on page 77:]
den 4
klom in den agtermiddag op het gebergte agter prinslo, probeerde eerst om twe uren de barometers, die weder als gisteren 27d 5½t gaven, het weer helder z:o: zagt. op de berg dewelke in anderhalf uur, met moeite beklom, hier gaven beide barometers om vyf uren met helder weer 25 d: en eene tiende, zagen twe buffels in het opklimmen en enige elanden van verre de berg boven op was gras met vele exerantimums hier te lande seven jaars bloemen genaamt
in den avond kwam met sons ondergang weer te rug wanneer drie caffers vond die ons al singende en dansende alles afbedelden, dit was schoon groot volk met een vrye vrolyke phisionomie. hunne capitein hieten godissa]

translation

[4th December 1777]
4

Very good weather: a clear sky in the morning with a cool south-east wind. Climbed the heights up to the forest and found that at the foot and on the plain it was full of thorn-trees, though as I came higher there were the most beautiful trees of the aforementioned kinds. Measured one of them which was four ells in circumference at the bottom of the trunk and which had a straight and smooth trunk of about fifty foot, like a pine tree. They call these yellow-wood here; it is used for building houses and making furniture. There are monkeys here like those in the Outeniqua forest, as well as green wood-doves, called lourie-birds here. (I was told that there were also true green parrots with crooked beaks and many other beautiful birds, but could get to see none of them properly). There are also buffalo here but saw only two animals that looked like rhebok. Returned to Prinsloo's farm towards midday. The road through the forest was very tiring, being steep and full of thorn trees. This whole range is one and the same as the Sneeuberg.

[added on page 77:]
the 4th: In the afternoon climbed the mountains behind Prinsloo and first tried the barometers at two o’clock both of which showed 27 inches 5½ tenths as they did yesterday. The weather clear, with a soft south-east wind on the mountain which I climbed with difficulty in an hour and a half. At five o'clock in clear weather both barometers showed 25 inches and 1 tenth. Climbing up we saw two buffalo and some eland in the distance. The top of the mountain was grassy with many xeranthymums which are called 'seven-year flowers' in this part of the country. I returned in the evening at sunset found, when I found three Caffres who beseeched us for everything, singing and dancing all the while. These were fine, large people with free, merry faces. Their chief is called Godissa.