Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
18th December 1779
transcription
[18th December 1779]
18
't selfde weer. en nog warmer. de wind even voor son op en direct na son stil.
maakten een distelboom en hielden alles gereed om morgen avond, de grote sware sandvlakte
[page 39]
na brakfontein door te ryden. vond de brete hier 28 gr. 450 min. peilde brakfontein na opgaaf Z ½ west de son op byna 5 graden maar van 't zenith zynde, moest met de schaduw observeren, kunnende sons diameter niet met het blindglas sien.
hoogte van de rivier. 530 voet. en daarom schynen dit hoger bergen.
translation
[18th December 1779]
18
The same weather and still hotter. A light wind before sunrise and calm immediately after dawn.
Made a wagon-shaft and got everything ready to travel to Brakfontein over the long, difficult, sandy plain tomorrow.
[page 39]
Got latitude here: 28 degrees 45 minutes. Took bearings on Brakfontein as stated: south half west. The sun is almost 5 degrees from the zenith so I have to make my observation from the shadow. Could not see the sun’s diameter with the smoked glass. Height of the river: 530 feet; thus the mountains appear to be higher than they are.