Inspiration Friday: A South African Ghost Story

Not so much 'inspiration' as just a song I love, this ghostly tale was written and sung by Koos du Plessis, although I also enjoy the cover done by Theuns Jordaan and Robbie Wessels on the CD “Kouevuur” (Cold Fire). (Because the original text is quite long, I’ve decided to only post the English, but here’s a link to the Afrikaans. At the end of the post is a video of Koos du Plessis singing the song.)

On the road to Nooitgedacht

On a dark night, deep in the month of July, on the road to Nooitgedacht, where three boulders stand against the sickle moon, I waited for a long time that night.

Because there a thief of old buried a sack of gold next to the road, and every dark night – with the sickle moon – he returns to search for his treasure.

Far off I hear four hooves, like a heartbeat deep in the night; it’s as if the devil is chasing him, because the moon is already low in the sky, on the road to Nooitgedacht.

At the ghost boulders near Nooitgedacht, so the people told me, no man can dare it on a dark night, he finds himself in Hel. But I stood fast and said I would go, man alone, one dark night. I steeled myself and let my horse be fetched, but I never expected such a thing: because sparks of fire flies from its hooves and ten tongues of flame plays in the night and the rider lies against his steed because it knows the road to the treasure of Nooitgedacht.

I saw too much and I thought, maybe, the best place is home, because I know danger, but I got into a tangle, and I wished I was already home. But home is far and the morning star hangs ghost-like over the veldt. This is no place for me, I’d rather go – let the man keep his money.

But the striking of the hooves drones in my ears and the ghost shoots silently from his saddle and sparks of fire flies as he digs next to the road because he’s coming to fetch his treasure.
But the burghers give him no peace – like a veldt fire they’re approaching – and the Mauser fire drones and drops of lead rains down and I thought I was seeing the end.

But two coals glow in his eyes, at once his back in the saddle, and his horse ploughs the air in its hurried flight, because he knows death is coming for him.

On a dark night deep in the month of July, on the road to Nooitgedacht, where three boulders stand against the sickle moon I laid for a long time that night.

And I know no one will believe me, it all sounds like madness in the day... but let everyone who laughs be on the road to Nooitgedacht just once at night. 

I haven’t yet been able to find out whether the story was Koos’ original work or if it is based on another tale, but I can tell you this… In the year 1900, during the Anglo-Boer War/South African War[1], a battle was fought near Nooitgedacht between the British troops and the Boers – many of whom used Mausers.

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[1] Depending on what you wish to call the conflict (in what is now South Africa) between the Boer Republics and Britain. For an overview of the war, see this site, or read ThomasPackenham’s book.