Andrew Geddes Bain. Vertaling van Engels in Afrikaans. Vert. deur Waldemar Gouws
Die reis na die Mzimvubu-rivier in 1829
(met apologie aan Andrew Geddes Bain)
12 junie 1829
is vanmôre af na die rivier
om seekoeie te skiet
daar voor my was cane en mnr. fynn egter al
hierdie lieflike kans
was net hulle s’n:
veertien seekoeie wei op die wal
(tot my verdriet)
so ‘n geleentheid kry jy nie sommer nie …
13 junie 1829
niks van belang gebeur vandag nie
die reent het vroeg begin
hou onverpoos heeldag aan
– dis onplesierig so tussen die lang gras
wat in die land van die amaponda ongelooflik na bo tier –
nietemin daglank gaan die inboorlinge voort
(ek is gesteurd verras)
met sing en dans en sing en dans
die amapondas is een van die gelukkigste volke op aarde
(is dit hoe dit hoort?)
hulle is altyd sien ek in ‘n goeie luim
© Waldmar Gouws, 2021
***
Journey to the Umzimvubu River, 1829
June 12th Went down to the river this morning with three of my people to shoot sea cows, but Cane & Mr Fynn had got to the place where they were before me and had a beautiful shot at fourteen of them standing on shore, an opportunity not often to be had …
June 13th Nothing of consequence occurred today as it continued to rain with little intermission all day, which made it very disagreeable among the long grass which grows in the Amaponda country to such a tremendous height that it is quite incredible. The natives, notwithstanding, kept dancing & singing all day. I believe the Amapondas to be one of the happiest people on earth; they are always in good humour.
Uit: Bain, Andrew Geddes. 1949. Journals of Andrew Geddes Bain: Trader, Explorer, Soldier, Road Engineer and Geologist. Edited with Biographical Sketch and Footnotes by Margaret Hermina Lister. The Van Riebeeck Society: Cape Town (p.111).
Die naam van die rivier, Mzimvubu, beteken “tuiste van die seekoei.”