194 Diary of a Journey to the Amaquas. 



valleys, which we had to cross and pass; our cattle were so 

 much exhausted, that it was considered advisable to rest here. 

 This spot was scantily provided with grass, and the surface of 

 the valley was very stony, and was watered by a little rivulet 

 which had not been seen before this, and the water of which, 

 although a little brackish, was fit for use. As no trees were to 

 be seen, we were obliged to use shrubs and rushes for fuel. 



We advanced this day two miles and three quarters, in a 

 N.N. W. direction. 



Thursday, 27th — We departed from Meerhofs Kasteel at 

 half past 8 o'clock, a.m. with rainy weather, and directed our 

 road through a kloof between two stony hills, and ascended a 

 height, where we were obliged to remain on account of the 

 troublesome stony and swampy roads, in which our wagons 

 and carts stuck frequently fast, by which our cattle had become 

 so much exhausted that they were not able to draw any more 

 that day. This plain, as well as the country which we had 

 passed, was badly provided with grass, but overgrown with 

 different sorts of useless herbs and shrubs. We found here a 

 small rivulet, which, as well as several we had passed, were all 

 somew-hat brackish, which was supposed to depend upon the 

 nitrous soil The country had a desert appearance, because, 

 in whatever direction the eye was turned it met no tree ; nor 

 was it inhabited except by Sonquas, who rove over it, and subsist 

 themselves with the game, of which, however, there was found 

 here but little. These Sonquas are in the service of, and 

 employed by, the Amaquas, to which nation they also belong. 



We travelled this day two miles and a quarter. Our latitude 

 was 30° 38', and longitude 37° 51'. 



Friday, 28th. — We took our departure, with fine weather, at 

 7 o'clock, and in order to avoid the heights which occurred, we 

 often changed the direction of our course, till we came to the 

 Laaste-modder-kuil, so called on account of the before- 

 mentioned reasons ; and as it was quite over grown with weeds, 

 the Commander ordered it to be cleared, so that we might 

 find water on our return, because there was no other in the 

 neighbourhood, except some in a small hole situated under a 

 rock, and which was both brackish and small in quantity. 

 The running water which we found in this vicinity was very 

 salt, and emitted a smell like pickle. After the weeds were 

 removed, we proceeded in a north direction three quarters of a 

 mile further, where we found it advisable to halt upon a large 

 plain, because we found tolerably good water and a scanty 

 supply of grass. We had advanced two miles and three 

 quarters. 



Saturday, 29th. — We advanced at 7 o'clock, a. m. and 

 ascended a height, from whence we saw before us a hill, thi 

 top of which was flat and table like ; and also a number of 



