spread the word
Village Life was not started as a commercial venture; it was simply a village child that grew into bigger shoes. From the start, we wrote about the things that interested us: nature, history, people. The positive feedback from readers indicated that there are many others who care about more than TV-star gossip.
Until the previous issue, the magazine was distributed nationally, albeit to a relatively small number of outlets. Rising distribution costs and a glut of magazines on retail shelves have forced us to review this position, and we decided to focus on subscribers to keep the magazine alive. From this issue the magazine will only be available by subscription and at selected retail outlets in some Western Cape rural towns and villages. We are relying on our readers to spread the word amongst friends: to subscribe and to give subscriptions as gifts (many readers already do).
Hennie Aucamp wrote in a letter some time ago: “Each issue of Village Life is a hymn and a feel-good poem.” We appreciate the compliment, and believe this song should continue to be heard.
Contact Ronél Vosloo to subscribe or to find out where Village Life is sold: tel 028 514 3300 or subs@villagelife.co.za
cover tracks
The first European travellers who crossed the Hottentots Holland Mountains followed the track used by game and the local Hottentots – the name, Gantouw, means Elands’ Pass. Until Sir Lowry’s Pass was built, thousands of wagons used this track, scoring the rocks with their brake shoes. Recently members of the Bridle Path Association rode along the old Cape wagon route again – page 6. Photo: Annalize Mouton
contents
2 At the office
Letters and other important matters, including the names of the three subscribers who won books in our ucky draw
4 The face of South Africa
Historic Boplaas in the Koue Bokkeveld, best known as the birthplace of author Boerneef, has been in the van der Merwe family for nine generations – by Maré Mouton
6 On the old Cape wagon route
Members of the Bridle Path Association follow in the tracks of early travellers, riding on horseback from Stellenbosch, over the Gantouw and Houw Hoek, to Swellendam
12 All work together at Mapusha Weavers
A women’s cooperative in Limpopo Province produces rugs and other items that is sold as far as America. Text by Linky Matsie, phtotgraphs by Briget Ganske
16 Trumpets full of nectar
Charles & Julia Botha introduce the Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) to your garden
22 The Diary of Iris Vaughan
School in Adelaide, and a visit to Grahamstown
28 Granite: Signature rock of the Cape
Dr Duncan Miller highlights the history of some ancient rocks along the Cape coastal areas. Charles Darwin visited Cape Town in 1836 to view a particular granite formation at Sea Point (not 1856, as stated in the article)
34 SA gets its first book town
Dr Darryl Earl David became fascinated with the book town concept, which originated in Wales and have spread all over the world, and chose Richmond in the Karoo
38 Elandsvlei, oasis in the Ceres Karoo
Researcher Annemarie van Zyl traces the history of this farm that functioned almost as a village, and of the Hough family,who lived there for seven generations
44 How they went farming
Prof Elwyn Jenkins recalls some of the books written about the travails of early farmers in South Africa
48 Seen from a hide
Veteran birding photographer Nico Myburgh recounts what he saw happening around his hide one day in arid Bushmanland. Read full text
52 From polenta to pap
Our Country Table: The ancient Italian staple is actually what we know as maize-meal porridge
54 Camera work
A portrait by Annalize Mouton that would do any Old Dutch Master proud – but done with a digital camera
56 Parting shot
On 17 May, an old muzzle-loading cannon was again fired at Hessequaskloof between Stormsvlei and Swellendam, a reenactment of the call-up system used by the Dutch colonial authorities 200 years ago
