Land of the Thirst King ~ Willem Steenkamp

Land of the Thirst King ~ Willem Steenkamp

Medium hard cover with dust jacket
Very good condition

Willem Steenkamp's Land of the Thirst King is a fascinating exploration of Namaqualand, a region rich in legend and history. Steenkamp, whose ancestors lived in the area for over 150 years, brings to life its forgotten byways, rugged landscapes, and the unusual characters who shaped its past.

The book delves into the Messelpad, a historic mule track once used to transport copper ore, and the Bushmanland, where vast herds of gemsbok once roamed. Steenkamp also introduces readers to the Kamiesberg, a remote area where old stories are still told in the distinctive, musical Afrikaans spoken nowhere else in South Africa.

The title, inspired by W.C. Sculley's writings, refers to the droughts that periodically devastate the North-West Cape. However, Steenkamp argues that to see Namaqualand only as a land of thirst and dust is to overlook its rich cultural and historical tapestry.