Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
19th December 1779
transcription
[19th December 1779]
19
bewolkt, donderlugt. dan stil dan een weinig dwarl koelte met den voor middag, uit den westen. niet so heet als gisteren. nademiddag west betrokken donderlugt.
vertrok om agt uur s'avond z:w: ½ z: op eerst met een draay z: tot aan ei oos graafwatertje (of by ons eselsfontein) twe uren van de river al opdragend, hier spannen de wagens die van de drift na brakfontein ryden om de verte uit, en geven de ossen water aan de rivier synde de drift nog vier uren n:o: van hier. ook begind het hoge vlakke rosse caro sand land hier, egter nog hier en daar hoogtens tot nog drie uren rydens, toen wy in de sogenaamde grote ros sand even opdragend vlakte nog 6 uren reden tot by enig alleen leggende gebergte, waarvan een de rondeberg hiet, hier lieten wy de ossen in het juk wat rusten, peilde Compagnies drift n:o: 2 gr. n: en goedows n:o: t n: brakfontein z:w:
translation
[19th December 1779]
19
Cloudy, thundery sky. First calm and then before noon a cool, slightly swirling breeze from the west. Not as hot as yesterday. A west wind in the afternoon, overcast, thundery sky.
At eight o’clock in the evening departed south-west half south, first with a turn south
to the dug-out waterhole, Ei Oos (or Eselsfontein to us) which is two hours uphill from the river . Here wagons travelling from the drift to Brakfontein usually outspan because of the distance and to give oxen water at the river, the drift being another four hours north-east of here. The high, flat reddish-brown Karoo sand country also begins here. However, we still encountered hills here and there, up to a three hours’ ride. Then we travelled slightly uphill for a further six hours through the so-called great red-sands plain until we came to some mountains, standing separately, one of which is called the Rondeberg. Here we let the oxen rest for a while in their yokes.
Took bearings: Compagnies Drift: north east 2 degrees north; Goedows north-east by north; Brakfontein south west.