Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)
30th December 1777
transcription
[30th December 1777]
30
de wind gepasseerde nagt sterk uit den z:o: met kouw en regen gewaayt ook nog gedondert. desen morgen nog donker, met een uur son, weer swaar donderweer, in het afryden van de dwars in de weg gebergte, kregen wy sulke sware hagelbuy, dat de meeste hagels als duiveneieren, en de anderen als eenden en hoendereieren, ook van die gedaante, en grote stukken ys, vielen, dit duurde omtrent vyf minuten, had er sterke wind by geweest hadden
[page 13]
wy gevaar gelopen dood te hagelen liepen en scholen agter de wagen, myn hond stak syn kop tussen de voorpoten en ging dus wind af leggen, de donder continueerde tot agtermiddag vier uren maar met kleine vlagen.
zagen voor het eerst in dese streken 35 struis vogels, en vele troppen noes ook enige bosvarkens. staken van de hartebeest poort z:z:westen aan. zagen een vuur der wilden in de vlakte daar wy na toereden, spanden omtrent vyf uren digt by dese plaats, die wy de chinese fontein noemden zynde het water zeer troebel en ros na de grond; de wilden, zynde twe, zagen van verre na de bergen lopen. peilde onse vorige uitspan plaats by oerebis rivier een en een half uur in het z:o:. alles het vorige terrein. dog zeer week door de regens
de wind s'avons zuiden.
translation
[30th December 1777]
30
The wind came strongly from the south-east last night, blowing cold with rain and thunder. Still dark this morning. A heavy thunderstorm again an hour after sunrise. Descending the Dwars-in de-Weg mountains we experienced such a heavy hailstorm that most of the hail-stones that fell were like pigeons’ eggs and others like ducks' and hens' eggs, and also of that shape. Great pieces of ice fell as well. This lasted for about five minutes. Had there also been a strong wind, we would have run the danger of being killed by the hail.
[page 13]
We ran and sheltered behind the wagon. My dog stuck its head between his forepaws, and lay thus downwind. The thunder continued until four o’clock the afternoon, but with small gusts.
For the first time in these parts we saw thirty-five ostriches, many herds of gnu, and also some bush-pigs. We struck out south-south-west from the Hartebeestpoort and saw a fire, made by the savages in the plain towards which we were riding. At about five o'clock outspanned close to this place which we called Chinese spring. The water was very muddy and reddish-brown like the soil. From far off we saw the savages, there being two, going towards the mountains. Took bearings on our previous camp at the Oerebies River, one and a half hours to the south east. The terrain everywhere as before, but very soft from the rain. The wind south in the evening.