Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)
12th January 1778
transcription
[12th January 1778]
12
nog w:n:w: wind schoon weer
vertrokken vroeg byna onse vorige weg, passeerde grote troppen caffers met bossen assagaayen, van Capitein magolli of magorri, confonderende dit volk veel de r met de l zy bedelden stout waarom hen niets gaf tonende hun dat niet bang voor hun was, zei hun te rug te gaan dat sy eindelyk, by een laag te deden.
qua onse cours ging tot vier uur van ruiter w n w, daarna met een kleine draay n:t:w: quamen door een caffers dorp van captein Conga daar my onse gids van ruiter zeide, nadat zeer vriendelyk door de andere caffers melk gegeven was, waar voor hun cralen gaf.) dat een hunner zyn schild gegrepen had en na de wagen wilde lopen om met my te vegten en alles aftenemen, dog dat de anderen hem gekeerd hadden, lagte er om en sey hem, de caffer te seggen dat daar niet kwam om hun enige hinder te doen dog als hy my in het minste molesteerde, dat hy dan zulks niet ligt weer beginnen sou. vervorderden onse reis, en quamen met sons ondergank by ruiter. de hyaena quam weer digt by, had een lange conferentie met ruiter
[page 25]
ruiters hottentots naam is toena, de caffers hieten hem coosjoe
translation
[12th January 1778]
12
Wind still west-north-west, beautiful weather.
Departed early, travelling very close to our previous road. Passed great bands of Caffres with bundles of assegais; they belong to Chief Magolli or Magorri. These people greatly confuse the sounds of R and L. They begged impudently and for this reason I gave them nothing, thus showing that I was not frightened of them. Told them to go back which they eventually did when we reached a hollow.
Our route went west-north-west to four hours' distance from Ruiter, and thereafter, with a small turn, north by west, we came through a Caffre town of the chieftain Conga’s, where our guide from Ruiter told me that – after I had been given milk very kindly by the other Caffres, for which I gave them beads – one of them had seized his shield and wanted to go to the wagon to fight with me and steal everything; but that the others had dissuaded him. I laughed about this, and told him to tell the Caffre that I had not come to do them any harm, but that if he molested me in the slightest he would not lightly try it on again. Continued our journey and arrived at Ruiter at sunset. The hyena came close again. Had a long conference with Ruiter.
[page 25]
Ruiter's name is 'Toena' in Hottentot. The Caffres call him Coosjoe.