Diary of a Journey to the Amaquas. 191 



which, they beat along the fields ; and if a Quail appeared, they 

 hit it, in its flight with great expertness. They hunted 

 Partridges, Hares, and other small game in the same manner. 



We found a Scorpion, as large as one of the Craw-fish that 

 are found in the Rhine, of a greenish colour, its nipper overgrown 

 with long hairs, and it appeared very poisonous. 



We travelled this day three miles. Our latitude was 31° I*. 



Thursday, 20th. — We left Bavians Berg with misty weather, 

 and had frequently to change the direction of our course, on 

 account of the many little hills that lay in our way. These 

 hills had a sandy and stony soil, and were over grown with 

 shrubs. Arriving at a valley, we found a rivulet with fine 

 water; but which was usually dry, except in very rainy seasons : 

 at this time there were about three feet of water in it. Along 

 its banks grew thorn trees and fine grass, and it discharged 

 itself into the Olifants river. We proceeded along its edge for 

 a quarter of a mile, in order to find a place where we could 

 ford it. After effecting this, we ascended a height, and 

 travelled over a plain, with mostly a clayey soil, and came again 

 to the Olifants river, which runs at that spot between high and 

 rocky mountains, in a S. W. direction. We continued our. 

 journey over a high sandhill, and then directed it N. W. to a 

 valley called Backeley Plaats, which is situated so as to have 

 on the one side the river, and on the other side the mountains ; 

 in the last- mentioned of which is found, metallic minerals, and 

 here we pitched our tents at a place that was well provided 

 with grass. The distance advanced to-day was five miles and 

 a half, which required us six miles and twenty-one minutes 

 travelling. Our latitude was 30° 56', the longitude 38° 15'. 



Friday, 21st. — We remained at our resting place in order to 

 refresh the people who had been fatigued a little, and also to 

 cure all such as found themselves indisposed, according to an 

 established custom on arrival at this spot. From its having 

 been reported to the Commander that a kraal of Hottentots, 

 belonging to the Gregriqua nation, resided about this place, 

 three men were dispatched to find them out, and to prevail on 

 them to come with their huts and cattle to us; but when they 

 arrived, they found that the Gregriquas had departed the 

 preceding evening, from a fear that wp. would take their cattle, 

 because they had rebelled against their Captains, (who had 

 been appointed by the Honorable Company, and carried 

 Batoons marked with its arms,) and had taken away their cattle, 

 because they did not like to barter them. 



That they entertained a belief that we would seize their 

 cattle, appeared from the circumstance, that they came them- 

 selves, about thirty in number, with a few sheep, in the evening 

 of this day, as it seemed for the purpose to find out if any thing 

 was contemplated against them ; and from not perceiving any 



