SA reads discussion

For six or seven months the rains were too heavy, the heat too great, the grass too rank, and the fever too bad in the Bushveld for any one to do any good there

What fever would this be? The Eastern Transvaal is an area that has been prey to both Malaria and tick bite fever. Neither of which is something you would like to contract.

An estimated 216 million cases of Malaria are reported annually, with over half a million people dying.

Could be the tsetse fly sickness. It gets specifically mentioned.

So, the book is a series of stories, episodes. Occasionally, Jock is not the primary character. It looks like Rocky, a subject of the first week's discussion, doesn't reappear.

When does the story of Jock take place? When was the gold rush?

Refer Cecily's first post in the Week 1 thread:

Gold was discovered near the town of Sabie in 1873 and started the first South African Gold Rush.

Tsetse flies cause sleeping sickness, of which fever may be a symptom, but it doesn't seem to be as predominant a "fever" based illness as, for example, Malaria. This is one for all the doctors in the house. Cecily? Lisa?

The summer months in mpumalanga, which is the rainy season, is also prime malaria time, so my guess is also malaria.

I am enjoying this book so much. Referring to a post by Cecily last week about a mother lioness shot dead for the fun of it. Im sure the author put that in for effect. And also because thats probably what used to happen those days. And heaven forbid, still does. He now describes the main character's witness to a herd of impala jumping over a road and about the beauty that hunters also experience in the bush. And the respect that they have for the wild. So hats off to Fitzpatrick. Maybe he is not that bad. Anybody who could see so accurately into the soul of a dog must be a good man.

I was surprised to find out that Jock wasnt really a Staffie, like in the movie, but rather a bull terrier. What we call in Afrikaans a varkhond. Directly translated, pig dog. For its ugliness I presume. Also its sad that many people actually confuse these bull terriers (varkhonde) with pit bull terriers, which are renowned to be vicious, aggressive dogs and not to be trusted. Whereas bull terriers are actually kind, gentle, trainable, loyal creatures. A very misunderstood breed it seems.

As I understand it Jock is actually a cross between a Bull Terrier and a Staffie.

Edit: I checked Wikipedia and it says more or less the same thing, but I also came across a site that claims Jock was a Boerboel/Staffie cross (which makes a lot of sense given the history of the Boerboel).

These dogs were often a first line of defense against predators such as lions, hyenas and other big cats and were valuable in tracking and holding down wounded game. Old farmers tell many tales of the strength, agility, and courage of their Boerboels.

I also think malaria. That area- which is part Mpumalanga and part the southern tip of Limpopo is an endemic malaria area. And I'm sure it was worse then. Does anyone else know about fever trees- there's a host along the Limpopo River?
And as Cecily mentioned, the mortality rate is still frightening(a disease with local epidemiology, how quaint) I wonder how it was treated back then?
The author mentioned earlier part staffie and part bull terrier, if you check my memorial picture out he looks like a bull terrier. Vicky, I agree, the Jocks abounded! Dirk Boer bulls look like lions.
FYI there's a thread for dog stories (I know there's a couple with three very funny dogs out there).

Unless there was an actual photo taken of Jock, who's to say the sculptor didn't take certain liberties? I once owned a Pit-bull / Boerboel cross. Seriously, one bad ass dog, but not as big as you might imagine. In fact, he looked a bit like that monument...

Thumbs up for Boerboels!

Vicki, I made this comment in week 1.

'I owned three bull-terriers as a younger man. All three caused me great grief, almost my death once, yet I remember them with fondness unlike any other of my many dogs and pets. I recognize the Bull-Terrier in Jock, and I think this is what made him different from the others, who probably were more like their Staffy father than their bull-terrier mother. Anybody who has owned a bull terrier will know what I am talking about'

That scene where Jock goes stifflegged and slow motion, growling at the table leg with his hair raised, is a typical bull-terrier characteristic. Did you ever notice it? They are batty and lovable, but they are also very dangerous if not handled properly. I would never recommend any body owning one, despite how much I loved mine.

OK Dirk...
Maybe we all see the dog we want to see in Jock? He's become the super dog of the canine brotherhood.

Lisa wrote: "OK Dirk...
Maybe we all see the dog we want to see in Jock? He's become the super dog of the canine brotherhood."

If this was the case, Jock would be a Pug. A super buffed Pug, but a Pug nonetheless. All of a sudden, the whole book doesn't make sense. Hunting? Running?

I think you aren't quite understanding me, and no, I don't see a pug. I meant the character. I see the silly dog, you saw the tough guy...

Lol!

Lisa wrote: "I think you aren't quite understanding me, and no, I don't see a pug. I meant the character. I see the silly dog, you saw the tough guy..."

I meant a Pug was what I myself would see. Love the critters.

'Pug of the Bushveld.' Hmm...that has a nice ring to it.

Yes! Jack Russel! I have two of them. My youngest once chased after a full grown kudu cow herself in the hills behind our house in Olympia, Windhoek when I lived in Namibia.

Vicki, you have placed an image in my mind of a cross-bred Jock that I fear will ruin the balance of my reading. I am enjoying the silliness of this thread, though. Perhaps it's a good way to lighten up during the heaviness of this week.

One of the symptoms of a psychotic disorder is a formal thought disorder such as derailing, which is what this group has done. We are also inventing creatures. Therefore, this group is psychotic. Cecily? 72hrs obs for all of us- some where sunny and warm with wine.

And more than once she brought home a trophy of Bloukopkoggelmander bit in the neck ( something like a big lizzard with a big blue head. Very scary)

Blue headed tree lizard- they are pretty. My vicious killer always brings me his prize, it's always fun to wake up to half a frog under your neck or a mouse head on your pillow- mini godfather this one.

I'll stop, if Vicki stops. You two, Adele and Lisa, worry me. How did we get to blue-headed lizards? Who started this whole thing anyway? I think it was Dirk - he's very quiet.

I had such a giggle after this conversation last night. I love this group. Lots of fun!

Agreed, Adele. Books don't have to be serious things, all the time. I do feel a little sorry for Jock, though - we did take the Mickey a bit.

Im sure he wouldn't have minded. Its all out of love and respect. He was a fun bright little character. I make fun of my dogs all the time. They love the attention.

The Impala stampede is so beautifully described. Does anyone think Jock could bring down an impala, I'm unconvinced because they're so fast and agile.
I really enjoyed Jim's response to Jock being missing, it's so human to not know what to do.

Aasvogel- vulture

Back to Jock. I enjoyed two insights in particular in my reading today:
1) The introduction of Jim, the Zulu. I grew up in Durban, and enjoyed having my memory refreshed as to the unique traits of the typical Zulu alpha male. They are so different to the isiXhosa, it is hard to believe they arrived together in the same Nguni migration from central Africa in the 9th century.
2) I have read that baboons hold more in common, socially, with humans than even chimpanzees do. Their determination to rescue their troop member from the leopard is typically human - a strong social bond exists in baboon communities, like extended families. Despite their ferocious presentation, they are melancholy creatures at times, and can stick with one mate for years.