Journals

Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)

18th November 1779


transcription

[18th November 1779]
18

't selfde weer en wind. met den voornagt z:o:

met den avond kwam ons volk en wy maakten ons gereed om morgen te vertrekken. in den agtermiddag kwam er een grote swerm trek springhanen uit den oosten, en dwarrelde af na de rivier synde seer hongerig, sy waren even als die, van gepasseerde jaar op sneeuwberg. sy strekken tot voedsel van menschen, vissen, leeuwen, springbokken en selfs eten de paarden die gaarn so als my pinar versekert. deese hottentotten eten ook van geen haas of drinken schapemelk na dat sy man gemaakt zyn.

translation

[18th November 1779]
18

The same weather and wind. South-east early part of the night.

Our people arrived in the evening and we made ready to leave tomorrow. In the afternoon a large swarm of migrating locusts came from the east, whirling off towards the river, being very hungry. They were just like the ones last year on the Sneeuwberg. They serve as food for men, fishes, lions, springbuck and even horses eat them willingly; so Pienaar assures me.
These Hottentots do not eat hares or drink sheep’s milk after they have been 'made men’.