Fourth Journey (MS 107/3/1-2)
21st November 1779
transcription
[21st November 1779]
21
z: oost en koel met den morgen, dog met den middag weer west en warm, na de middag bewolkt.
Pinar na huis verlangende, reed voor uit. ik gaf hem schoemaker mede, omdat syn kop op hol was, so door manquement aan drank, als de langheid der reise. bleef nu met myne vier hottentotten en twe jongens alleen, synde bly van Schoemaker ontslagen te syn, die het ongedult selfs was. reed regt het veld door en quam na 5 uur rydens aan onse vorige legplaats, haries
sag een cameelpardalis, dog ver. moesten het water opgraven, en os voor os laten drinken. wierden verscheide scorpioenen gewaar zynde het wonder dat wy niet gestoken wierden, also men moei zynde maar op de grond gong leggen.
translation
[21st November 1779]
21
East wind and cool in the morning but at noon blew from the west again and was hot. Cloudy in the afternoon.
Pienaar, longing for home, rode ahead. I gave him Schumacher for company because he is out of control, as much from lack of drink as from the length of the journey. Was alone now with my four Hottentots (as well as the two boys), happy to be rid of Schumacher who was impatience itself. Rode straight across the veld and after travelling for five hours arrived at our previous camp, Garies. Saw a giraffe but far off. We had to dig for water and let the oxen drink one by one. We noticed several scorpions and it was a wonder that we were not stung since we simply threw ourselves on the ground, being exhausted.