Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
12th August 1779
transcription
[12th August 1779]
12
gepasseerde nagt geregent.
z:o: goed weer
term 50 - 66 - 56
reden deselve cours. quamen met den middag in swaar sand en doordien ik de twe vorige dagen om de betrokken lugt geen brete had kunnen nemen hield de wagen stil en nam brete bevindende 29 graden 1 minuut. gingen langs strand daar spoor van menschen en een afgeslagte rob vel vars vonden hier moest een kuil water zyn. Pedro zeide dat dit het spoor van jagende bosjemans was, die hier per jagt gekomen waren
[page 14]
en het water uitgedronken hadden. vonden zeecoraal (plant) en dils. dog in 't geheel geen coralen maar wel sponsen. hier by waren de zeeklippen vol keijen en kwarts zagen een hoek n:w: in zee schieten, en was het strand hier als ingestord en de zee weggesakt. sogt overal in dit strand. dat byna 70 a 80 voet hoog was, daar eindelyk volmaakte schulpen in de steen versteend vond. daalde na de laagte en vonden hier een diep hol waarin opgespoelde bomen. de ossen sonder water en moei zynde door het sware sand, bleven staan
lieten hun hier wat lopen. en met den avond, gaf last om weer in te spannen, ging daar dhr. Patersons wagen uitgespannen was en vonden die op het spoor schoon donker, een groot uur verder, en schoon pedro water versekert had, vonden wy ons nog twe uur en een half te voet van daar, bleven dien nagt daar. onse coers is van de hoek n: h w. geweest een myl sagen twe jakhalsen langs strand
translation
[12th August 1779]
12
Rained last night.
Wind south east wind: good weather.
Thermometer: 50-66-56.
We rode on the same route. At midday came into heavy sand and because on the two previous days I could not take the latitude because of the overcast sky, I stopped the wagon and took the latitude. Got 29 degrees 1 minute. We went along the shore where we found the tracks of people and the skin of a freshly slaughtered seal. There should be a water hole here. Pedro said that the tracks were those of hunting Bushmen, who had come here for hunting, and had drunk all the water.
[page 14]
Found sea coral (a plant) and dills, but there was no coral at all, but we did find sponges. Here the sea-rocks were full of pebbles and quartz. We saw a promontory jutting out north west into the sea. It looked as if the shore here had caved in and the sea drawn back.
Searched everywhere on the shore, which was about 70 to 80 feet high, and eventually found perfect, petrified shells in the stones. Went down into the declivity and found a deep hollow in which there were washed-up trees.
Without water and tired because of the heavy sand the oxen would not move. We let them walk around a bit here and in the evening I gave orders to yoke them again. I went to where Mr Paterson’s wagon had been outspanned and though dark we found them in their tracks a good hour later; and though Pedro had assured us of water we still found ourselves a good two and a half hours walk from it. Remained there this night. Our course was one mile from the promontory north half west. Saw two jackals on the sea shore.