A
History of Bees and Beekeeping in South Africa
Ferdie M. Du Preez
Author of Aloe Ferox and the Bittersweet Healer
The author, Ferdie du Preez, grew up on a farm
situated in the scenic environment of the South-Western Cape. This area
forms part of the greater Outeniqua tract, described by the French
traveler, Francois Le Vaillant in 1782, as an area where: “one indeed
cannot proceed a step without seeing a swarm of bees.” It therefore
comes as no surprise that at a very young age, the author made his
first acquaintance with the honeybee in these surroudings, creating a
lifelong affection, fascination and interest in them.
If
adventure is in your blood; then this is the book for you. The author
takes his readers on the trail of some of South Africa's pioneer
beekeepers, and early explorers. Live again their journeys, adventures and encounters with South Africa's indigenous bees.
Also meet Henry Barrington, an English nobleman, who was the first
beekeeper to import bees (from England) into South Africa. While en
route to the Cape of Good Hope on board of the Dartmouth, he and the
ship's captain, one Jacob, get involved in a fierce quarrel. This
resulted in an armed duel between these two men on the Dartmouth's
arrival at Table Bay. The ensuing gunfight was almost fatal. The
biggest veldfire ever to be known in South Africa, in 1869 completey
destroyed Barrington's farm and apiary.
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Read about Joshua Penny, an American deserter and refugee, who in 1795
escaped the British occupying forces at the Cape. He fled to Table
Mountain where he hid in a cave, and for fourteen months had no contact
with any other human being. Here he acquainted Table Mountain's honey
bees. For the whole of his stay on the mountain, he solely subsisted on
honey, meat and sorrel.
Other major topics include the role of
honey at Commander Jan van Riebeeck's castle at the Cape; some joys and
woes of South African beekeeping; the importation of honeybees into
South Africa; the history of those beehives being employed in South
Africa over the years; the historical role of bee pasture in South
Africa, constraints relating to South African beekeepers, and more.
“A
History of Bees and Beekeeping in South Africa” is the first South
African book ever to be written on this fascinating subject; and is
after all a book to enjoy.
It contains 80 photo's and maps.
Ferdie M. Du
Preez
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