Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
12th July 1779
transcription
[12th July 1779]
12
betrokken lugt even z:o: term: 50 - 64 - 60
door den dag n:w even
enigen ossen weg gestreken, het grootste displaisier van het reisen in dit land is het onvermydelyk ossewagen omslag. reden n:w: op. en spanden na seven uren lang saam rydens door losse carogrond weder by de oliphants riv: uit. de doornrivier die van troetroe komt, passeerde wy na drie uren rydens, er was weinig water in
zy loopt hier niet ver van in oliphants rivier. ging op de sogenaamde phaisanten jagt dog schoon er vele waren, konde om de vele struiken en doornbomen geen krygen. een uur eer wy uitspanden, is een oliphants pad door de rivier noas drift genaamt. een os kon niet verder, moesten hem agterlaten. hier houden enige oliphanten, dog sagen er geen.
translation
[12th July 1779]
12
Overcast sky. Light south east wind.
Thermometer: 50-64-60.
A light north west wind throughout the day.
Some oxen wandered off. The greatest unpleasantness about travelling in this country are these unavoidable troubles with ox wagons. Rode north-west and after seven hours' slow going through loose Karoo soil we again outspanned at the Oliphants River. It was after three hours’ travelling that we crossed the Doorn River which flows from the Troe-Troe. There was little water in it. It runs quite close to the Oliphants River at this point. Went hunting the so-called pheasants, but although they were plentiful I could get none on account of the bushes and thorn trees. An hour before we outspanned we saw an elephant’s path crossing the river at a place called Noah's drift. One ox could not go any further, had to leave it behind. There are a few elephants here, but we did not see any.