150 tpie copper field of namaqualand. 



Translation. 



The Directors at home appointed me Chief Mining Engin- 

 eer, not only to take over the supervision of mining operations 

 on the West Coast of Sumatra, but also, in passing the Cape of 

 Good Hope, to make close enquiry into such minerals as the 

 Governor has reports of as existing in this region. There were 

 also the instructions of the Lord of Mydrecht, given when he 

 was here, to report precisely on all waters, streams and hills 

 in the district within a few miles of the Cape. However, not 

 the least trace of gold or silver could be found here ; at one 

 place only, near the Witteboomen, three hours from the Fort, 

 where, on account of the convenience of its sittiation and abun- 

 dance of wood and water, small operations were commenced as 

 a test at the least possible expense, with about ten men, three of 

 whom I brought with me from home, together with seven slaves 

 supplied at my request by the Commander. The mine was al- 

 ready sixteen fathoms deep, where there were some good indi- 

 cations of minerals exposed. These contained copper and a 

 very little silver. Moreover, the above mine is not likely to be 

 hindered by water, as a kloof near by has a depth of more than 

 80 fathoms ; this clearly shows that even in the rainy season 

 the mine will not be inconvenienced by water. The favourable 

 conditions at this mine induced me to continue the work, it being 

 a new venture, so that I could judge what profit might be 

 anticipated ; I will send your Excellency some samples, in order 

 that from the results of tests you may form a better judgment. 



Further, the said Lord of Mydrecht authorised the Com- 

 mander to make a journey in order to ascertain what profit 

 could be found in the country in the way of minerals before the 

 Honourable Company takes it over, and he authorised me to 

 assist the Commander in exploring the minerals, and to give my 

 opinion in writing in obedience to those orders. 



So, being unwilling to delay the said expedition with the 

 Commander, we left the Cape of Good Hope on 25th Augtist last 

 year, 1685, and, after about a month's journey, crossed the 

 Oliphant's River ; from that place to the Buffel's River, as will 

 appear in more detail in the diary, the Commander was all the 

 time ifully informed by me of the nature of the rocks, which 

 were closely examined to see if they held minerals, and on the 

 way various minerals were found capping other minerals, which 

 were, however, neither good nor pure, nor were they in distinct 

 veins. Thereafter the Commander prospected at all the resting- 

 places and examined closely into the possibilities of the locali- 

 ties, but nothing of value resulted. It was not advisable for 

 the Commander to delay further amongst these hills, which gave 

 no apparent indications, as he intended to push forward and 

 reach his aim in the Copper Mountains, in the first place in order 

 to avoid scarcity of water on the return journey, and secondly, 

 after forming an opinion on the Copper Mountains, to take 

 back with him actual and various proofs of the minerals in the 

 country passed through, so that they could be tested b}' the 



