|
" We cannot extricate the involvement
of humanity from the general pattern of "nature" in time
and space. Our daily lives were in the past, are in the present
and will in the future always be linked to the resources and the
well-being of the natural environment. Also every action we take
relating to our daily lives and survival on this planet will always
have consequences and as such, leave signatures of our passage through
the landscape of space and time."
..., in the distant past people moved through the landscape as free
as wind, water and fire, dictated to only by the laws of nature.
We, as humanity, have in the last few thousand years decided to
"settle down" and make our own "laws" concerning
our relationship with the earth. It is dearly hoped that we as humans
will be able to adapt and win the the race for survival, as the
earth holds many fossils as proof of species that were not able
to pass the final test: that is to live in harmony with this one
world that is our home, and to continue to do so over an extended
period of time on a geological scale." (S M Miller 2002)
On Silent Valley ranch there are at least
two stone walled sites that probably relate to the Later
Iron Age. These sites may be classified as 16th century Ndebele
occupational sites.
In the early part of the last century Silent Valley Game Ranch
was a hunting ranch. The original inhabitants hunted
Eland for meat and hides. The meat was dried as biltong and the
hides were cut into long thin strips which when tanned were used
as rope.
"Fruits, such as Marula, were collected from the bush and "mampoer"
(moonshine) a strong alcoholic drink, was
brewed and drunk by the local inhabitants "to liven up the
periodic dances and otherwise dreary daily lives". Small crops
were committed to the soil, and left to the whims of nature. Drought,
storms, locusts and game took their toll but most of the time sufficient
was harvested to last another year. Similarly cattle were kept in
small numbers to provide milk, draught animals and when necessary,
for meat. Nature in its own abundance produced fruit, plants and
game that complimented the table when so inclined." (
S M Miller)
There is a story told of an elderly couple
that lived in a rondavel on the farm at the beginning
of the last century. They survived on hunting Eland for meat and
turned the skins into rimpies ( thin strips which were cured and
used as rope). Once a month they used to hitch up their donkey cart
and trek across the hills to Bulge River to attend Church and replenish
supplies for which they bartered the dried meat and skins. The donkey
died and the elderly couple resorted to using a wheel barrow for
their monthly trip. The Old man pushing and the old woman pulling
the barrow.
Later inhabitants tried to grow peanuts after the war. The land
was not suitable due to poor soil and low rainfall. Cattle were
then ranched until 1997, when all cattle were sold, fences removed
and Game was reintroduced.
All diesel driven water pumps were replaced with solar pumps and
all electricity produced from solar cells in 1998. Sable,
Rhinoceros, Wildebeest,
Zebra, Giraffe,
Waterbuck, Gemsbok and Tsessebe
were introduced over the next two years.
|
