4(> Diary of a Jou/ney to the Amaquau. 



One of our party went a hunting, and shot an Eland we; 

 ing about 1000 pounds, which induced us to encamp on a large 

 plain in order to cut up the animal, and from that circumstance 

 we named the spot Eland's Kraal. This place was very well 

 furnished with grass, water, and wood. — Latitude 32°. 25'. 

 longitude 38°. — Weather became fine. 



Saturday, 8th. — We started at 7 o'clock, and after travel- 

 ling four miles and a quarter we reached a spot, directly under 

 the Jackals' Kloof and the Kanarieberg. Here the mountains 

 which stretched from Bergriver to the eastward of us, joined 

 the Piquet Mountains. Our resting place was well provided 

 with grass, water, and wood. 



During the first quarter of a mile of this day's march we 

 met some sandy, but afterwards the finest clayey soil, watered 

 by a great many rivulets springing fr6m the Piquet Mountains ; 

 which mountains appeared to be well provided with timber and 

 firewood. 



In the afternoon the Commander mounted the Kanarieberg, 

 which is very high. From its top were seen twelve fine \ alleys 

 which we had passed to our right, that is to say, to the east- 

 ward of us. 



Sunday, 9th, — At half-past six, a.m. we proceeded, and, 

 after travelling four miles #nd a half, we passed through a 

 Kloof which separated the Piquet Mountain from the other 

 just alluded to. We left another called Oloson's Kloof, on our 

 left ; which serves as a good passage to the Zeekoeyen Valley, 

 and to the Olifant's River in the dry season, but in the rainy 

 one it is unpassable. 



In proceeding through that Kloof we had a small, rivulet on 

 our right, which had its source in the side of the Kloof, and 

 fcas called Little Olifants' River. Along this we travelled, 

 and reached a hollow which we named St. Martyn's Valley, 

 being walled in on both sides with high mountains. This 

 valley had many windings, so that we had often to change 

 the direction of our course. 



The hills which we passed this day were all sandy and stony, 

 wild, barren, and overgrown with shrubs ; and the valley 

 very solitary, unpleasant, and overgrown with reeds, &c. 

 Towards the end of this day's journey we came to a plain 

 only scantily provided with grass, but plentifully with water 

 anil fire-wood, and here Ave baited. 



Monday, 10th. — We left our resting place called Gregriqua's 

 Valley, with fine weather, and directed our course according 

 to the many windings of the St. Martyn's Valley. After we 

 had advanced two miles we came to a turn, where we halted ; 



■d from thence we ascertained that the said valley stretched 

 into rhe mountains on our right hand, and formed a sort of 

 labyrinth. Our halting place furnished us with on! 



