Dark continent; Rock sliding; O.K.; Monkeygland; another glossary

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

     Last roundup from South Africa.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
DARK CONTINENT

     There is, of course, Henry Morton Stanley's 1878 book: THROUGH THE DARK
CONTINENT: OR, THE SOURCES OF THE NILE AROUND THE GREAT LAKES OF EQUATORIAL
AFRICA AND DOWN THE LIVINGSTONE RIVER TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
    There are quite a few earlier hits for "dark continent" on the Making of
America database that antedate this.  One is "Africa...that dark continent"
in the PRINCETON REVIEW, July 1833, pg. 289.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
ROCK SLIDING

    "Bungy jumping" too sedate?  "Abseiling" too passe?
    Why not try killing yourself "rock sliding"?
    This is from BACKPACK AFRICA, Jan-April 1999, pp. 22-23:

_ROCK SLIDING_
_SLIDING DOWN A RIVER ROCK FACE FOR FUN?  YOU MUST BE CRAZY_
     Rock sliding is an adventure sport tailor-made for the daredevil.
Reputed to be scarier than bungy jumping it involves bum-sliding down river
rock faces five to thirty meters long wearing little more than a helmet,
elbow guards, shorts and sandals.  A former initiation ritual of early Zulus
to prove their manhood, rock sliding has been revived by the young white men
of the area--perhaps in a similar quest.
     The only commercial rock sliding operation in South Africa is found in
the magical kingdom of Zululand, just inland of the east coast.  Local
"madmen" Matthew Peckham and Marc Upfold started the venture on a commercial
basis last year in August.

     Matthew's address is animalbru at hotmail.com.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
O. K. BAZAARS (continued)

    F.W.I.W. to the study of "O. K."
    The South African library had a collection of O. K. Bazaars' annual
reports from the 1950s and 1960s.  It appears that the company dates from
1929.  By the 1960s, O. K. Bazaars employed 15,000 people and was perhaps
S.A.'s largest chain store.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
MONKEYGLAND SAUCE (continued)

    The Johannesburg airport had a Steers restaurant, and I was able to jot
down this from the Monkeygland sauce jar label.  Monkeygland sauce is a
"blend of oriental fruits and aromatic spices" for use on "steaks, burgers,
pork fillets, schnitzels, and veal escalopes."
    Monkeygland sauce contains:  water, vinegar, sugar, vegetables, fruit
(apples, peaches), modified starch, spices, monosodium glutamate, xantham
gum, citric acid, and caramel.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
BIG FIVE (continued)

     Two hits include:

Anthony Dyer, CLASSIC AFRICAN ANIMALS: THE BIG FIVE (1973).
Charles Albert Walter Guggisberg, THE BIG FIVE: THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (1975)
(Sapra safari guide, no. 4).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
YET ANOTHER SOUTH AFRICAN GLOSSARY

     This is from SA 98-99: SOUTH AFRICA AT A GLANCE, pages 164-165:

SOUTH AFRICANISMS
Expressions in daily use which may confuse the visitor.

AIKONA--never, not on your life
APTEEK--pharmacy
BAHBALAS--a hangover
BAIE DANKIE--thank you very much
BAKKIE--a light delivery vehicle
BILTONG--dried meat
BOBOTIE--traditional Cape dish of spiced meat
BOEREWORS--a spicy sausage
BONSELLA--a gift, gratuity
BOSBERAAD--conference in the bush
BOTTLE STORE--liquor store
BREDIE--a meat stew
BRAAIVLEIS--a barbecue
DAGGA--cannabis
DASSIE--rock rabbit
DOP--a tot of spirits
DORP--a country town
FANAGALO--mixture of English, Afrikaans and Zulu
FRIKKADEL--a fried meat ball
FUNDI--expert
HAMBA KAHLE--'go well
HOWZIT--how are you?
INDABA--a tribal conference
INDUNA--a headman
IZIT--really?
JA-NEE--maybe or so be it
JOL--a party
JONG--young fellow
JUST NOW--recently, in a while--could refer to the past or present
KEHLA--old man
KNOBKIERIE--stick with knobbed head
KONFYT--fruit preserve
KRAAL--an enclosure for sheep, cattle
KREEF--crayfish
KWELA--form of African jazz using a pennywhistle
LAAGER--a circle of wagons
LEKKER--nice, enjoyable
LINKS--left
MAMPARA--a fool
MOSSIE--South African sparrow
MUTI--medicine
NOW NOW--in a little while, more immediate than "just now"--also refers to
past or present
NOW NOW NOW--immediately, instantly
OKE--fellow, chap
OOM--uncle
PADKOS--food for the car, a picnic
PIET-MY-VROU--a red-chested cuckoo with distinctive call
PONDOK--hut, shack
ROBOT--traffic light
RONDAVEL--circular shaped hut
ROOINEK--Afrikaner name for Englishman
SIES or SIS--exclamation of disgust
SHAME--exclamation of sympathy or warmth for something endearing, moving,
attractive or small
SHEBEEN--township bar
SJAMBOK--a leather whip
SKOLLIE--a hoodlum
SHRIK--a fright
SLEGS--only
SOSATIE--a kebab
SPRUIT--a watercourse
STOEP--verandah
SUKKEL--struggle
TAGATI--bewitched
TAKKIE--sneaker
TOKOLOSHE--evil spirit
TOTSIENS--goodbye
TOYI TOYI--a dance of protest or celebration
TULA--shut up, be quiet
UMFAAN--a young boy
VASBYT--hang in there
VELSKOEN--a shoe made of untanned hide
VOERTSAK, VOETSAK--buzz off
VRY--to court or pet
WAG 'N HIETJIE--wait a minute
WINKEL--a shop