42 Diary of a Journey to the Amaqvas. 



quarters of a mile, and passed a flat which was very boggy and 

 soft on account of having been saturated with water which had 

 flowed from the mountains during the rainy season. From its 

 softness, it occasioned us considerable trouble in transporting 

 our baggage. At the distance of a quarter of a mile from 

 thence, and round a hill, we reached Riebeck's Kasteel, under 

 which was situated an uncommon fine valley, well provided 

 with every thing, and watered by a pleasant river. This 

 mountain derived its name from His Honor the Commander 

 Van Riebeck. In it is situated, an accessible grotto, and its 

 rurfaee is overgrown with trees, fit for timber. We proceeded 

 E. by N. a quarter of a mile, to the south corner of the said 

 mountain, when we directed our course E. by S. for a quarter 

 of a mile, to some high ground, where we took the bearing 

 of the Lion's-head, which was S..S.W. 3°W. Our road after 

 this lavN.E.byE. a quarter of a mile, to a height which 

 situated between Riebeck's Kasteel and another hill 

 without a name, which lay on our right hand. From that 

 height the low country and the mountains on the other side 

 of the Berg river, appeared very pleasant, and furnished a 

 delightful view of extensive flats. After descending from the 

 high ground Ave halted on a plain abounding with grass and 

 waterT Lat. 33. 2. long. 38. 45. 



Friday, 31st. — In the morning the weather was foggy ; at 

 half-past seven o'clock we pursued our journey in a N. E. di- 

 rection till we arrived at a small river, when we directed our 

 course N. E. by E. for half a mile, in order to avoid a swara- 

 ]iy valley which lay E. and W. from Riebeck Kasteel. The 

 country in general was hilly, the soil sandy and clayey, and 

 the surface for the most part overgrown with shrubs and flags, 

 and intersected either by little rivulets, or their dry beds, which 

 caused us to change our course several times. It was N. E. by 

 E. one quarter of a mile ; N. E. by N. three quarters of a mile ; 

 N. by W. half a mile, and then we reached the Berg river at a 

 place called Sonquasford, where we found slate which appeared 

 adapted for the covering of houses. This river takes its name 

 from its sources being in the mountains, and by them being 

 walled in for a considerable part of its course. It receives a 

 tributary stream called Kleine Berg river (Little Mountain 

 river) which has its origin also in the mountains alluded to, 

 and after the junction winds its course through a considerable 

 extent of country, till at last it disembogues itself into the 

 .-; a at Si. Helena Bay. Its banks, in many places, are 

 clothed with trt or timber. We pursued our jour- 



;iloii£ the Berg river till we reached the ford of Brie 

 Huisjes (throe cottages) where we encamped upon a spot well 

 lied with grass- 



Saturday, 1st Sfej r, — At about half-past seven o'clock 



