Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)
7th December 1777
transcription
[7th December 1777]
7
tegen den avond kout betrokken weer zuid oost wind enige stof regen mistige lugt met zuid oost, nam afscheid van de gecommitteerdens, die naar de zeekant vertrokken om zo weder na de Caap te rug te keren, en ik om myn wagen te halen, die om de ossen wat te laten rusten vyf uren van hier gelaten had, om myne voorgenomen reise verder te vervolgen ging weder door het caffers dorp, en gaf enige tabak aan godisa en coba, zynde godissa nu beter te vreden, gaf aan coba twe stukken tabac voor twe zyner kraal die over de rivier legt dewelke ik hun gisteren belooft en vergeten had te geven, zy waaren hier alle over verwondert, ook over myn twelopig geweer en pistolen. naar afscheid van hun genomen te hebben, reed weg en godissa en Coba liepen na enig vertoef nog weer na my toe, zo dat stil hiew, Coba riep Cabe Gordon Cabe, en godissa begreep ik dat nog enige schapen om te eten versogt, dog hem wysende dat niet meer had, zeiden zy dat de leeuw dien nagt daar in den omtrek drie ossen gedoodt had, waarna zy te rug keerden, ik zag ook kort daar na het spoor van een grote mannetjes leeuw, dog arriveerde zonder iets te zien op de plaats van willem prinselo tegen den agtermiddag.
translation
[7th December 1777]
7
Around evening, cold cloudy weather; south-east wind. Some drizzle, misty sky, wind south-east.
Took leave of the Committee members who were travelling towards the sea in order to return once more to the Cape. In order to continue further the journey I had planned, I went to fetch my wagon which I had left five hours from here so as to rest the oxen a bit. Went once more through the Caffre village giving Godissa and Coba some tobacco; Godissa is now better contented. Gave Coba two pieces of tobacco for two of his kraals that are situated across the river, which I had promised them yesterday but had forgotten to do. They were all astonished at this, as well as at my double-barrelled gun and pistols. After having taken leave of them I rode off. After a slight delay Godissa and Coba again walked towards me so that I stopped. Coba shouted "Cabe', Gordon, Cabe!" and I understood that Godissa was asking for some more sheep to eat; but when I showed them that I had no more, they said that the lion had that night killed three oxen in the vicinity; after which they turned back. Shortly afterwards I also saw the foot-print of a large male lion, but arrived at Willem Prinsloo's farm in the afternoon without having seen anything.