Third Journey (MS 107/2)
25th October 1778
transcription
[25th October 1778]
25
helder weer koel iets z:o: gepasseerde nagt wit gevroren
termome op vriespunt geweest. eer erger als beter wordende en geene medicynen hebbende. myn twe myner beste hottent. ook ziek zynde iteki en plattje.
resolveerde ik om niet verder myn voorgenomen reis noord te vervolgen. dog west van hier het land optenemen, en dan als beter wierd na tijdsomstandigheid te doen.
heb hier een wyfjes gerbo gekregen die dragtig is. en al mak word. nam hier weer een accurate breete en kreeg G 32 m 5 Gr 25 n w misw: de wyngaard die even jonge druiven had is gepasseerde nagt door de vorst gansch bedorven. synde de bladeren door de son omtrent 10 uren s’m reeds verdort. dit is late vorst en niet gewoon.
translation
[25th October 1778]
25
Clear weather, cold. A little wind from south-east. Last night it froze white.
Thermometer was at freezing point. I am getting worse rather than better and, having no medicines and with two of my best Hottentots, Iteki and Platje, also sick, I resolved not to pursue my intended journey further north, but to survey the land west of here and then, if I get better, to act according to the time available.
I have got a female gerbil here which is pregnant and already tame. Took an accurate latitude here and got 32 degrees and 5 minutes, error 25 degrees north-west.
The vineyard, which just had young grapes, was totally ruined by the frost last night, and at about 10 o’clock in the morning the leaves were already withered by the sun. This is late frost and unusual.