28 ...the skipper once more went ashore with the pinnace in order to seek water, but when several pits had been dug in the sand, they found none; we therefore set sail again... but when we had run a distance of 21⁄2 miles, a violent landwind drove us off the land, so that we had to drop anchor in 3 fathom, the blacks on shore sending up such huge clouds of smoke from their fires that the land was hardly visible; at night in the first watch we set sail again....
29 ... when we had run 11⁄2 mile we came to anchor in 2 fathom, and landed here as before in order to seek fresh water; we had some pits dug a long way from the strand, but found no fresh water; the blacks showed themselves from afar, but refused to come to parley, nor did we succeed in luring any towards us by stratagem; at noon we were in 16° 10’ near a river which in the chart is marked Nassauw revier: when we saw that we could do nothing profitable here, we set sail ...
30 ... at noon we were in 15° 39’ ... we landed also here as before with the pinnace in order to look for water, and to see if we could meet with any natives; after digging a number of pits we found no water, so that we set sail again…
May
1 In the morning ... the skipper once more rowed ashore with the pinnace, and having caused three pits to be dug he at last found fresh water forcing its way through the sand; we used our best endeavours to take in a stock of the same; about 400 paces north of the farthest of the pits that had been dug, they also found a small fresh-water lake, but the water that collected in the pits was found to be a good deal better.
2 ... we continued taking in water.
3 ... we went on taking in water as before ... I went ashore myself with 10 musketeers, and we advanced a long way into the wood without seeing any human beings; the land here is low-lying and without hills as before, in Lat. 15° 20’; it is very dry and barren, for during all the time we have searched and examined this part of the coast to our best ability, we have not seen one fruit-bearing tree, nor anything that man could make use of; there are no mountains or even hills, so that it may be safely concluded that the land contains no metals, nor yields any precious woods, such as sandal-wood, aloes or columba.
In our judgment this is the most arid and barren region that could be found anywhere on the earth; the inhabitants, too, are the most wretched and poorest creatures that I have ever seen in my age or time; as there are no large trees anywhere on this coast, they have no boats or canoes whether large or small; this is near the place which we touched at on the voyage out on Easter-day, April the 16th; [Marginal note: The Waterplaats is in 15° 13’.] in the new chart we have given to this spot the name of Waterplaets; at this place the beach is very fine, with excellent gravelly sand and plenty of delicious fish.
4 ... we could just see the land; at noon we were in 15° 12’ Lat.; slightly to northward we saw a river to which we have given the name of Vereenichde revier ...