GEORGE NEWS - Legendary Leentjiesklip in Wilderness is not only the name of a landmark rock, but also refers to the western end of the Wilderness beach, as well as the property bordering on it.
In his book Wilderness: Gateway to the Garden Route, local writer and historian Hugo Leggatt retells a tragic love story about the origin of the name.
"Many years ago I was told about it by a certain Mr HJ Raubenheimer, also known as Jack, who lived in one of the houses right at the end of Leentjiesklip," said Leggatt. "He has been gone for a long time now."
A photo of Jack Raubenheimer's house, from 10 July 1953.
The story goes like this:
"At the end of the nineteenth century, few people lived in the Wilderness, as it was then named. Life was not easy and the sea provided an important source of food, both fish and shellfish.
"The story goes that a young woman, known to us as Leentjie, the diminutive of Lena, worked as an oyster gatherer on the rocks at the end of the beach and around the point to the mouth of Kaaimans.
"She had a boyfriend, whose name is lost.
"As sometimes happens, he jilted her for another woman. Leentjie, shattered by the news, drowned herself from the rocks, which ever since have borne her name. Remember poor Leentjie when next you are near her rocks. It must have been a sad end."
Copies of Wilderness: Gateway to the Garden Route are available at Wilderness Pharmacy.
Wilderness in 1949.
This photo of Leentjiesklip dates from 1903, and is about 120 years old.
Hugo Leggatt: "Remember poor Leentjie when next you are near her rocks. It must have been a sad end." Photo: Karma Pienaar
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