Second Journey (MS 107/1/1-2)
9th December 1777
transcription
[9th December 1777]
9
konden nog niet vertrekken, ging naar het bos om louries en andere vogels te schieten, dog zy waren te wild, in dit bos is aanmerkelyk, dat de wilde wyngaat ape touw hier geheten, aan de toppen der hoogste bomen zit
[page 82]
en tot beneden in de grondt desselfs wortel zittende of liever hangende dus twe drie maal op en neer, als de touwen van een schip, kan nog niet begrypen hoe zy zo hoog komen of zy moeten met de boom opgroeien, zy zyn zommigen agt en tien duim circunferentie, so dat men er tegen op kan klimmen. keerde zonder enig beest te zien weder te rug. als de wilde druiven ryp zyn, dat in maart is tot augustus dan zyn die vogels makkelyk te schieten.
translation
[9th December 1777]
9
We were still unable to depart. Went to the forest to shoot louries and other birds but they were too wild. In this forest it is remarkable that the wild vines, called monkey-ropes here, are right at the top of the highest trees
[page 82]
and the roots of the same reach, or rather hang, to the ground below, going up and down two or three times in this way, like the ropes of a ship. Can still not understand how they can get so high or whether they have to grow up with the tree. Some of them are eight to ten inches in circumference so that one can climb up them. Returned once more without having seen any animals. When the wild grapes are ripe, which is from March to August, the birds are easy to shoot.