Journals

Third Journey (MS 107/2)

19th October 1778


transcription

[19th October 1778]
19

mist in de morgen
nam afscheid van de E: hr Gouverneur en stak het veld door naar de plaats van Potgieter, met een bastert hottentot te paart, arriveerde na 5 uur en een quart sterk rydens. zag by een kraal daar vier jonge kalvers lagen meer dan hondert gieren of hier genoemde aasvogels, die de veehoeders in het veld zynde dese kalvers dewyl zy leefden niet aandeden. desen dag schoon weer z:o: slappe wind term 63 tot 84 en sons on 66, reed na sons ondergang met de beer die mede by potgieter kwam over bruinshoogte tot by grovelaar daar wy sliepen, met den avond forsse z:o: term 66 gr schoon in het gevoel koud, zynde de lugt hier so fyn dat hy met forsse wind seer aandoed.

translation

[19th October 1778]
19

Mist in the morning. Took leave of His Excellency the Lord Governor and crossed the veld to Potgieter’s on horseback with a mixed-race Hottentot. Arrived after five and a quarter hours’ hard riding. I saw at a kraal where there were four young calves, more than a hundred vultures (or what are here called aasvogels), which do not harm the calves while the herdsmen are out in the veld.
Fine weather this day. Soft south-east wind. Thermometer 63 degrees to 84 degrees and at sunset 66 degrees
After sunset rode with De Beer, who had come to Potgieter’s with me, over Bruintjes Hoogte to Grovelaar’s, where we slept. Brisk south east-wind at evening. Thermometer: 66 degrees, though it feels cold. cold, the air being so thin here that it hurts when the wind blows strongly.