Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
14th August 1779
transcription
[14th August 1779]
14
schoon weer z:o: passaat
term 60 - 77 - 65
ging na het strand, dat nu door onse noordelyker coers een en een derde myl west van ons was, de hr Paterson en ik gingen eerst tot daar dese waterloop indien hy loopt by zee schiet, dog vonden er geen drup water en alleen tekens dat de zee somtyds door het gat in de lage duin slaat, en schynt dit water nooyt so sterk te lopen dat hy in zee loost. het strand was met lage duinen beset en vele rotsen, dog hier was geen voorstrand van klippen en maakte een klein sandbaaytje egter met sware branding. al deselve strekking met even inhammen vonden. met opgespoelde bomen vele grote mossel en klip suiger schelpen. de rotsen deselve varieteit en helling. Paterson gaf een schreeuw en op het ogenblik liep een schaapsteker slang over myn voeten, weg sonder te willen byten.
na door de duin wat gesogt en geen wasbesien, maar de vorige succulente planten deser kust gevonden te hebben. velen in fraie bloey. keerde wy al langs dese waterloop te rug die hoe langer hoe steiler en smaller wierd. tot wy verdorst by onse fontein terug kwamen. sag twe leeuwe sporen, een hottentots graf daar wel klippen om maar hol van binnen was. en vele grote hopen schelpen allen van de voornoemde soort, en nooit mosselen schoon die hier goed zyn by uitgeholde krantsen daar dit volk gelegen had. sag de corresponderende hoeken als altoos. wy hieten onse leg plaats diepe cloof
[page 15]
vonden buiten de fontein maar twe kleine kuilen maar pekel sout water. kwamen verhongert en verdorst te rug sagen enige bye nesten dog zy waren te hoog in de rotsen om die uit te halen. horisontale en ingesakte en uitgedroogde stratas. met veel irreguliere streken kwarts of allabaster. wy hebben wel wilt spoor dog alleen een struisvogel in het n:n:w digt aan strand van ons sien twe bergjes twe myl af. aan zee is de wind altoos zuidelyker. in de kloof hadden het seer warm de term: op 88. sloegen een slang doodt.
translation
[14th August 1779]
14
Fine weather; south-east trade wind.
Thermometer: 60-77-65.
Went to the shore which is now one and a third miles west of us on account of our more northerly route. Mr Paterson and I went first to where this watercourse, if and when it runs, flows into the sea; but found not a drop of water there and only signs that the sea sometimes breaks through the gap in the low dune. It appears that the water never runs so strongly that it flows into the sea. The shore was covered with low dunes and many rocks (but there was no stony beach). It had formed a small sandy bay, with really heavy surf. The same features everywhere, shallow bays. Found with the washed-up trees many large mussels and shells of rock-clinging molluscs. Rocks: the same variety and facing the same way. Paterson gave a scream and at that moment a skaapsteker slithered away over my feet but without trying to bite me. Searched through the dunes but found no waxberries only the succulent plants of this coast mentioned earlier, many blooming beautifully. We returned along this watercourse which became steeper and narrower the further we went until we arrived parched at our spring. I saw the tracks of two lion, also a Hottentot’s grave which did have stones around it but it was hollowed out inside, and many large heaps of shells all of the aforementioned kind and never a mussel although they are certainly present as can be seen by the hollowed out places where these people have been. As always saw how the buttresses of the hills fit into each other. We called our camp Diepe Kloof.
[page 15]
Apart from the spring found only two small water holes, but the water in them was as salty as brine. Returned very hungry and thirsty. We saw some bees nests but they were too high in the rocks to take out. The strata are horizontal, desiccated and have subsided, with many irregular bands of quartz or alabaster. We have seen game tracks but only one ostrich. In the north north-west, two miles away, close to us by our shore, we see two small mountains. At sea the wind is as always southerly. We had it very hot in the kloof. The Thermometer: at 88. Killed a snake.