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Jock
of the Bushveld |
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The book "Jock of the Bushveld" was written by Sir Percy
Fitzpatrick in 1905, for his young children, and tell the story of his dog
"Jock" and their adventures in South Africa some 20 years before.
 Jock
- a bull-terrier - was born in the present day Kruger National Park near the
Pretorius Kop Camp. He was the runt of the litter and the young Fitzpatrick saved
him from certain death by adopting him as a pup. Percy Fitzpatrick became a transport rider - carting
supplies for the goldfields at Pilgrim's Rest and Barberton from Delagoa Bay (now Maputo)
in Lourenco Marques (now Mozambique).
Jock grew up to be a
faithful and obedient companion, as well as a champion fighter and
hunter. Jock accompanied Fitzpatrick on his journeys through
the KNP, as well as through the towns of Sabie, Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest,
Barberton and Lydenburg.
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Locality Map of Paradise Camp
(click for larger image)
In
1983 the Lowveld Digger's and Transport Rider's Society erected these
bronze plagues on rocks wherever Jock's original route crossed the
present day roads.
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Paradise
Camp
Fitzpatrick
and his fellow transport rider, George Fullerton, established a summer camp on the Escarpment and called it "Paradise Camp" without leaving too many clues
in his book as to it's exact location. |
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A
hundred years later Pathfinders of the Lowveld Digger's and Transport Rider's Society
(local historian Brian Simmons along with Derick Coetzee and Bill Knoesen)
"re-discovered" Paradise Camp - less than two kilometres
north-east
of Graskop town.
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This drawing, by Brian Simmons, depicts
everyday life in Paradise Camp. In the foreground are Sam, Jock, "Pezulu"
the cock, Jim Makokel & young boy, and in the background George
Fullerton and Percy Fitzpatrick.
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Fairyland:
About 1km south-east of Graskop town (and
1.7km south-west of Paradise Camp) the Pathfinders "re-discovered" the
1,000 grey sandstone sentinels of fantastic shapes, mentioned by Fitzpatrick.
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formations bear very descriptive names such as "The Wolf, The
Sea-horse, The Vulture, The Camel and The Sitting Hen".
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Brian Simmons at
The Sea-horse
(click for larger image)
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The Wolf
(click for larger image)
The Vulture
(click for larger image)
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Web Master's Note:
After more than 100 years all that remains of Paradise Camp are the
breathtaking views over the edge of the Escarpment, but the rock sentinels
of Fairyland are still there and will grace the landscape for another
million years. See the Hiking / Walking section of our Adventure
page for directions to Fairyland.
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Acknowledgements:
All photographs and drawings on this page come from the following two
publications:
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"In Fitzpatrick's Footsteps"
Through the Present White River District. By B.P. Simmons
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"In Fitzpatrick's Footsteps"
Jock of the Bushveld's "Paradise Camp". By D.J. Coetzee,
B.P. Simmons and W. Knoesen
Recommended Reading:
Jock of the Bushveld. By Sir Percy
Fitzpatrick. ISBN 0 636 01116 X. Publishers: Maskew Miller Longman (Pty)
Ltd, Cape Town.
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