Today, my Dark Origins – African Myths and Legends post discusses the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town and the ghosts that haunt its battlements. Thank you for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.
The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa, was built in 1665 and became the scene of many bloody and tragic events. The Castle came about as the result of a ship wreck, a common occurrence at the southern most tip of Africa where the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans meet.
On the 25th of March 1647, a Dutch ship called De Nieuwe Haerlem ran aground near present day Milnerton, as it journeyed from Holland to the East Indies. The ship sank and a junior merchant named Leendert Janszen was requested to stay near the site of the wreck, with about 60 crew members, to look after the cargo while the rest of the ship wrecked men boarded other ships and continued to Holland.
While he waited to be relieved of his responsibilities and return home, Janszen and his men grew vegetables, caught fish and bartered fresh fish…
View original post 1,037 more words
roberta-writes.com 
Headed to the post now, Robbie! 💕🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Harmony
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re the Zulu’s cannibalistic Robbie? You stopped right when the fight started. How did it end?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Wayne, the Zulus were not cannibals, but they did disembowel their victims and eat their gall bladders. They believed Disembowelment released the dead person’s spirit to join the spirit world. The distention of the stomach caused by gases in the intestines after death was believed to be the trapped spirit trying to escape.
LikeLike
how caring of them
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, the cruelty of the Zulus makes it hard to feel sorry for them, but on the other hand, the British behaved badly too.
LikeLike
whether it’s Zulu’s or British doesn’t matter, they are all humans competing for the gold in the cruelty Olympics
LikeLiked by 1 person
On my way to read the rest!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz. I have visited this castle several times but I didn’t know about its ghosts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Robbie. The ghosts did add interest to the post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, Robbie. Hugs on the wing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Teagan
LikeLike
I love these Dark Origins stories, Robbie. I’m heading over to read the rest. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI Diana, I am really pleased to hear that. They take a bit of effort to right and it is nice to know you appreciate them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah. They’re fascinating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter sailed around the Cape (with me in tow via pictures), on a Cruiser. The seas were calm, but I can well-imagine the waves that would have sunk that ship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a very dangerous coast line, Jacqui. I found a most fascinating poem about it called Lusiad or The Discovery of India, an Epic Poem by Luís de Camões. I have written a stanza of this poem into my new short story.
LikeLike
Heading over to read the rest, Robbie! This sounds very interesting 🙂
LikeLike
Adore you history posts! Heading over!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Resa.
LikeLiked by 1 person