Prostitutes, Charles Dickens and Heritage Day

Today in South Africa, we are on holiday. It is a public holiday, Heritage Day. Originally called Shaka Day and only celebrated in Kwazulu Natal, 24 September commemorated the life of mighty King of the Zulus, King Shaka. Shaka was a brutal, fiercely intelligent, militant Zulu chief who conquered disparate small tribes and united the Zulu nation. He … Continue reading →

A Cape Colony Christmas in 1863 and Strawberry Santas Gone Bad

I have been away again. I was here, in the bush; out of mobile phone range, without electricity, surrounded by the Big 5, with two wild animals of my own, one of whom rolled off the dining room table and smashed out their front teeth. Well, they’re dangling by a thread and the 5 dentists (yes, … Continue reading →

The Shipwreck of The Grosvenor 4 August 1782

The East India Company’s Grosvenor was a three-masted, square-rigged, frigate-built vessel. She was built by Wells of Deptford and set off on her maiden voyage to India in 1770. Twelve years later, on her fourth and last voyage from Madras to England, she plowed straight into the African continent in the early hours of a stormy, misty morning. She … Continue reading →

South African Ghost Stories – Cape Town Castle

It has been a sombre week. I killed a dog who ran into the road while I was driving. I wasn’t speeding. She hit my back tyre, so I didn’t have to choose to break or swerve or to keep going to avoid a more serious accident. I stopped on the verge, wrapped her up in my … Continue reading →

Human Trophies – Khoe Lips for Dutch Colonials

Jan Van Riebeeck landed in South Africa in 1652. He arrived to take over the place on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Of course, European ships had stopped off at the Cape of Good Hope for many years en route to the Spice Islands in the east but this was the first official … Continue reading →

Hottentoo Harry, Jan Van Riebeeck and Granny Thompson Part Two

This is part two of Hottentoo Harry, Jan Van Riebeeck and Granny Thompson. As per my charming husband’s instruction, I split the article in two. I hope after the abrupt expulsion (compliments of said husband) from the fynbos-covered land around Cape Town, that you can throw yourself back into the south-easter. Hottentot Harry whose real name was Autshumato learnt some … Continue reading →

Hottentoo Harry, Jan Van Riebeeck and Granny Thompson Part One

For my 35th birthday my charming husband gave me a history in South Africa that stretches back 100 000 years and more. My mitochondrial DNA profile places me in haplogroup L0d1b. This means that a woman with my genetic profile has lived in South Africa since the beginning of human time. Group L0d1b is found in people with … Continue reading →