IV. J.A. Baron van Plettenberg to Swellengrebel,
In the Castle of Good Hope, 1.2.1779
After having waited a considerable time in vain for the journal and map of your expedition into the interior, I started in the beginning of September on my own journey, being motivated by the necessity of restoring order in the far outlying districts. After an unpleasant journey through the Karoo, we arrived at the farm of J. de Beer in the Camdebo. I proceeded across the Zneeuw Bergen as far as the Zeekoe-river, which had the previous year been renamed the Plettenbergs River by Robert Gordon. We were hoping to hunt hippopotami and succeeded in killing 20 of these wonderful animals in one morning! Thereafter we returned to the Camdebo and continued our journey along Bruintjes Hoogte until we reached the Great Fish River. We met captains Koba en Godijssa with numerous herds on this side of the Fish River. The river was in flood, and I decided to return home. The captains promised by handshake to move across the Fish River with their cattle. Time will tell whether their word can be trusted. I tried to take one of the sons of Koba along with us. His father had agreed to this, but when the time came, he had hidden the boy away. The father gave many excuses, but it was evident that he did not trust us. We left along the ordinary route along the Langkloof. We then crossed the so-called ‘Duijvels-Kop’ in order to reach Outeniqualand and take a look at the Bay, which I called Plettenbergs-Baaij, as it had never had a name before. At the Nieuwe Post I received your letter of April 1778 and was pleased to know that you still remember this place and its inhabitants.
After an absence of 12 weeks I arrived back at the Castle where I found everything in good order. After so many hazardous days' journeys, and having sometimes stayed for one or two days at the same spot, I am happy to say that I have now through personal inspection a better knowledge of the land and people. The inhabitants were well disposed towards me, but if they had greater charity towards one another, they would surely live a happier life.
Van Plettenburg thanks Swellengrebel for information from Holland and help given to a member of his family.
De Wet who was one of my fellow-travellers, having been promoted by me as landdrost of Stellenbosch, will also be able to use the insight he gained on this journey.
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