Diary of a Journey to the Amaquas. X) 



iply of grass, but abundantly with water. We remained 

 here on account of the high sand hills which we had to pass, 

 and which the cattle were not able to perform that day. The 

 position we called Doolhofshoek, that is Labyrinth Corner. 

 The captain of the miners, who had become unwell yesterday, 

 fell into a violent fever this day, and complained of pain all 

 over his body, but particularly of head-ache, which was found 

 to be here a common complaint. — Latitude 31°. 54'. longitude 

 38°. 5'. 



Tuesday, 11th. — We left Doolhofshoek with rainy weather, 

 and passed through a stony and steep Kloof leading to the fore- 

 mentioned Sand hills ; and after that proceeded parallel with a 

 high hill, which we had on our right; then along a height 

 where we met an elephant, which the noise and shouts of 

 our party put to flight. We then travelled for some time 

 through a very marshy valley, in a part of which we encamped : 

 and while we halted another elephant appeared, on which the 

 Commander ordered the trumpet to sound and the drum to beat 

 so as to frighten him away. That seemed to confuse him alit- 

 tle, as he went off without doing any mischief. We had ad- 

 vanced four miles. 



Wednesday, 12th. — At seven o'clock we departed from our 

 resting place, which we called Olifants' Valley, and we passed 

 chiefly over a swampy flat and poor sandy soil, overgrown with 

 reeds and shrubs, but no grass, and with a rivulet of good 

 water. We then passed along a valley called Olifants' Jagt, 

 which is situated between two mountains, and terminates like 

 a bow net (fuik) ; and halted when about half way through it 

 at a spot where we found a kloof in the mountain. 



This place was pretty well supplied with grass, and watered 

 by two streamlets ; the one of which was fresh, and the other 

 brackish. The valley was overgrown with Rhinoster bosjes 

 (Rhinoceros bushes), which are so called because those ani- 

 mals keep generally amongst them. — Latitude 31°. 45'. longi- 

 tude 38°. 33'. — Weather fine. 



Thursday, 13th. — We left Olifants' Jagt with misty weather, 

 passed a kloof and crossed a sandy hill, after which we travelled 

 along a stony mountain. We then had a view of the sea, and 

 descended into low ground called the Brakke Valley, which was 

 well provided with grass, and near it was a pond with water 

 which was saltish, with the exception of some springing at one 

 corner, that was pretty fresh, — thus we found salt and fresh 

 water in the same hole. Fire-wood was plentiful. We this 

 day travelled a mile and two-thirds of another. 



Friday, 14th. — At seven o'clock we departed from the 

 Brakke Valley, and passed over a sandy hill overgrown with 

 brush-wood; and after that continued our course along another 

 called Uileberg, on account of the many owls found there. 



