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Hi everyone
I am the proud owner of a book named" Neem uit die verlede".Can anyone please tell me if Stevnson-Hamilton wrote any books, because in the referance list i see STEVENSON-HAMILTON,J. (1930) The Kruger National park : Handbook and Guid: and a couple of others. One title that fit KNP is
The Transvaal Game Reserve:Journal of the Society for the preservation of the Fauna of the Empire. Can someone please help me. I am looking for these books.
TV

Hi tv, will try my best to help you

zaza

He actually has written quite a few. Go onto google books and type in Stevenson-Hamilton in the search area. You will be surprised. I had the privelage of meeting Jonas (cant remember his surname). He was Stevensons second rifle. He is now 98 I think. The stories that that guy told me, opened my eyes completely. He started working under Stevenson when he was 16 years old. All his children (six) exept one died. His last one is going on pension this year and still works in Skz.
He told me how part of his job was, to fetch water for the tourists from the Sabie and boil it, so the people could wash. He said the first time he saw a car, him and his fellow staff ran away, because they didnt know what it was. Stevenson found them in a tree close to where the airport is today, wanting to fire them, because he had to walk a few hours searching for them. Apparently he took one of the only spoons with him, so the cooks had to use sticks to finish cooking the guests food. To their irritation of course, because it was high class people. He told me when they tarred the first road, he couldnt understand why, because who wants to see animals fom a tar road anyway.

Any way, what was supposed to be a 15 minute trip from the kruger gate where I picked him up, ended up being a two hour trip, as at one stage I found myself driving in first gear at about ten km/h

Wacktazz, what a special experience

I would dearly love to read more of the eary days and the many struggles they had to overcome. I have seen excerpts of Stevenson's writings in another of other books, but I would love to read some of his own accounts, first hand.

Some of the earlier pioneers were such characters, including the original "Duke". Stevenson had a special liking for this particular ranger, but his love for a "bottle of the strong stuff" meant that he was often in trouble.

Then there is the ranger, I cannot remember which one, who used to sleep with his 16 dogs, prefering dogs to people. I thing that he was also over fond of "the strong stuff".

I know that Bruce Brydons book has a fascinating chapter on some of the earlier characters of the Park.

Yes, MM, that ranger you mention was Major Fraser. Wolhuter stayed over one night at Sabi Bridge when Fraser was stationed there. Fraser put him in the spare room and gave him some bedding. The night was cold and eventually Wolhuter went across to Fraser`s room to borrow an extra blanket. By the light of a candle he saw a pile in the corner and the sounds of grunting and snoring. The pile turned out to be 25 dogs sleeping around and on their master who, fully dressed, lay on his back snoring away. He explained that he had no other blankets other than those he had given Wolhuter and that this was quite a regular practice as the dogs kept him much warmer that any blanket.

This story is in the book "South African Eden". other books are "The Lowveld, its Wildlife and its People", "Wildlife in South africa" and "animal Life in Africa".

This park has many stories about those long-gone and not so long-gone days. Wacktazz that must have been a very interesting discussion, so glad you seem to have enjoyed it so much.

According to African Eden , and I quote from my memory , Major Fraser had an aversion for paperwork , and when Stevenson Hamilton visited him the office was apparently so infested with spider webs that entry was close on impossible . On enquring as to supporting documentation for a bag of money for fines collected , Fraser could not produce a single receipt .
if I remember correctly Stevenson Hamilton wrote that Fraser spent most daylight hours sleeping and read a hunting periodical "Field & Stream" at night .

ah yes, I do remember the aversion to paper work
I could so identify with that.

Interesting stuff i often Imagine what it would have been like to experience the park in those days .

Whenever I read about the early days, I am more and more taken by the "miracle" of Kruger.
There is a book, soon to be released, on "The History of Mpumalanga". In it Kruger is placed into a wider context and anyone would have been forgiven in thinking that this mission/dream was utterly impossible.

I have an earlier edition of the book, but a newer, more reader friendly edition will be hitting the bookshelves soon.

The book also deals extensively with the land claims issues.

The book , is the author a lady with surname Carruthers (Jane?) ?

No Ndloti, this is a different book.

Oryx, I would love to know more.

Morning MM. This book is called "Mpumalanga:History and Heritage" edited by Peter Delius who is a history prof. at Wits. It is a definitive account of Mpumalanga, its history and its people by a team of specialists - historians, geographers, archeologists, geologists, economists,etc. I have not read it yet but I think this would be the book to get. There was a review in the Mail and Guardian some time ago.

Oryx, the newer edition should be on the shelves soon. I might just pop into the bookshop today and see if it is there yet.

One of his best-known works is A South African Eden Little bit more info available on that page.