Diary of a Journey to the Amaquas. \\ 



Swampy, in consequence of which, by the sinking of the 

 carts and wagons, we had the misfortune to break a shaft 

 and tong of one of the latter, belonging to the inhabi- 

 tants; and also an axletree of one of our own, which detained 

 us for a considerable time. We then took a direction N. E. 

 by N. for a mile and a half, when we arrived at Dorn Kraal, 

 a spot well provided with grass, but only with brackish wat< 

 After halting, and searching for some time, a stream of fresh 

 water was discovered which had never been detected before. 

 It was situated close under the great Paardeberg. Lat. 

 33. 29. long. 38. 33. weather fine. 



Wednesday, 29th. — The repairs, necessary for the carts and 

 wagons, detained us till half-past nine o'clock at Dorn Kraal. 

 On starting we pursued a course N.E. by E. for a quarter of 

 a mile, keeping the Paardeberg on our right, and the Dassen- 

 berg on our left ; we then ascended a hill and took the bear- 

 ing of the Castle of Good Hope, which was found to be S.W. 

 by S. : our road after this lay N.E. by N. for a mile and a 

 quarter, when Ave came to a pleasant valley with very fine 

 soil, well fitted for the Residence of several families, and 

 watered by a rivulet which springs from the foremen - 

 tioned Paardeberg, and runs in a direction eastward, and 

 southward. Its banks are clothed with thorns, which are the 

 only sort of firewood. After crossing this river, we reached 

 a high hill, which we ascended, and when we arrived at the 

 top, we found it well covered with firewood; and on the other 

 side, at its base, a fine pleasant valley, planted by nature with 

 flowers of all colours, and abundantly provided with grass. 

 Proceeding further, we had on our right very high rocky 

 mountains, which were situated on the other side of the Berg 

 river, and though sometimes covered with snow, are, not- 

 withstanding, inhabited by a tribe of Hottentots called Son- 

 quas, who gain their subsistence by robbing and stealing 

 from other Hottentots, having neither cattle nor any thing 

 else of their own to live upon. After advancing some way 

 farther, \\ e reached a place called Hoi le river, provided with 

 good grass and water, where we halted. Lat. 33. 13. long. 

 38.41.; weather very fine; distance travelled, four miles 

 and a half. 



Thursday, 30th. — In the morning we left Holle river, with 

 foggy weather, and pursued a course N. by W. three quarters 

 of a mile, then N. N. E. one quarter, and from thence due 

 North, to the Deep river, whieh discharges itself into the Salt 

 river that runs into Table Bay. We then procei l< IN. 3°B 

 with a view of avoiding the river. The country was hilly, 

 with a sandy and clayey soil, variegated in some spots \ 

 fine marshy well watered valleys, and hills thickly covi 

 with wood. We continued our route N.E. byNi fin rl, 



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