Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)
2nd November 1777
transcription
[2nd November 1777]
den 2 nov
vertrokken smorgens vroeg noord noord oost om de olyphants river die men zeide hoog te zyn te passeren by ocker olivier*,[annotated on page 34:]*drie uuren westelyk van hier is een waarm bad, digt aan de regter oever van de oliphants rivier, dog ben er niet geweest.
na vyf uren rydens arriveerden wy door hooge ruggens en na de saffraan rivier die van de atquas cloof komt, en by ocker olivier in de oliphants rivier loopt twe of driemalen gepasseert te zyn, peilden de atquas cloof op de distantie van 4 uren n n oost ¼ oost trokken door de rivier noordwest en toen oost noord oost en oost langs de regter oever dier rivier na zyn oorsprong op, vonden de rivier zeer passabel, omtrent 50 treden breed, en niet seer snel lopende er was gepasseerde 15 mey op eene nagt zo veel water uit de lange cloof gebergte en ćamńasi gebergte gekomen, dat de oevers wel tot een quartier breed waaren geweest, zulks was in geen geheugen gebeurd
[page 36-37]
zagen enige struisen met jongen dog konden ze niet krygen
zagen enige coudous, kwetsten de bul en myn hottentot schoot een halfjarig jong, konden om de donker de bul niet vervolgen. passeerden drie uren oost van daar wy de oliphants rivier door reden een riviertje dat van het Ángoos of natte gebergte komt, en hier zuid in de oliphants rivier loopt, een uur oostelyker komt de Ćamńase rivier noordelyk langs een hoge rug in de voornoemde rivier, kwaamen omtrent half tien mooy starreligt op de hoogte by een klein riviertje; de hoogte willende afryden naar den boer roelof Camfer die aan de overzyde woont, [cancelled in margin: den 3] schoon alle precauties gebruikte, hebbende van donker af altoos voor de wagen gelopen, ben de gaten aangewesen, sloeg nogtans de wagen, op zy omvallende een ganslike slag in de rondte tot in de laagte met een slag, dat alles dagten tot gruis te zyn. myn schilder die tegen alle waarschouwing altyd in de wagen bleef, dagt verloren te zyn, also by de waagen komende, in het begin niets hoorden, dog naderhand een bedroeft gekerm, na hem er uitgehaalt te hebben scheen alles te stuk, dog na dat hem gevisiteerd hadde en wat wyn gegeven, hadde hy zig alleen een weinig op zy de wang gestoten, en een ligte contusie aan zyn eene hand, dese pad maker diende gestraft te worden, also hier meer wagens omslaan.
gingen naar het huis, daar wy de man absent vonden, en na lang*[annotated on page 37:] aankloppen binnen gelaten wierden, bleven den nagt hier rietfontein heet dese plaats
[annotated on page 35:]
de 2
| [hette om ses] | [agt] | [middag] | [vier] | [ses] |
| 51 | 63 | 74 | 62 | [blank] |
betrokken in den morgen klaar weer, op den middag, mooy weer, klein z w windje donder weer lugt
translation
[2nd November 1777]
The 2nd November
| Temperature. 6 o’ clock in the morning | 8 o’ clock in the morning | Afternoon 12 o'clock | Evening 6 o'clock | Evening 8 o'clock |
| 51 | 63 | 74 | 62 | [blank] |
Overcast in the morning. Clear weather in the afternoon. Beautiful weather. Light south-west breeze. Thundery sky.
Departed early in the morning north-north-easterly in order to cross the Oliphants River, which was said to be high, at Ocker Olivier's. (Three hours to the west of here, there is a hot spring close to the right bank of the Olifants River; but I have not been there).
After a five-hour ride we arrived through high ridges and after passing the Saffran River, which comes from the Attaquaskloof and runs into the Oliphants River at Ocker Olivier's, two or three times. Took bearings on the Attaquaskloof at a distance of four hours north-north-east a quarter east. We crossed north-west through the river and then east-north-east and east along the right bank of this river, towards its source. We found the river very easy to ford, about fifty paces wide and not running very fast. On one night, the 15th of May last, so much water came down from the Langkloof and Camnassi mountains it stretched the banks to good quarter of an hour wide, something which had never happened in living memory.
[pages 36-37]
Saw some ostriches with young but could not get them. Saw some kudus: wounded the bull and my Hottentot shot a young one, half a year old. Could not pursue the bull because of the dark.
Three hours east of where we rode through the Oliphants River we crossed a small stream which comes from the Angoos or wet mountains (and which runs south into the Oliphants River here). An hour further to the east the Camnassi River flows northward beside a high ridge into the aforementioned river. At about half past nine, in fine starlight, we reached an elevation next to a small stream. We wished to travel down the hill to a farmer, Roelof Kamfer who lives on the other side; but although we took all precautions , having since nightfall always walked in front of the wagon and having indicated the holes, it nevertheless pitched over. It fell on to its side and then completely over, landing at the bottom with a crash so that we thought it had all been smashed to powder. I thought that my artist, who against every warning always remained in the wagon, was lost. Reaching the wagon however we at first heard nothing, then after a while, a wretched moaning. When we had pulled him out it seemed that he had broken everything, but after examining him and giving him some wine, found that he had only bumped the side of his cheek and had a light contusion on one hand. The man who made this road deserves to be punished, as other wagons also overturn here. We went to the house where we found the owner absent and, after knocking for a long time, were let in. Spent the night here. This place is called Rietfontein.