The naming of Table Mountain
In 1620 and English seafarer, Humphrey Fitzherbert, landed at what he called the Bay of Soldania (Table Bay) and in the best British tradition promptly took possession of the area in the name of his king, James I. In a short ceremony on shore he sportingly presented the bewildered Khoi people with an English flag, thus apparently making the exercise perfectly legitimate.
He then set about naming the surrounding mountains. First to be honored was the present day Signal Hill, which was christened 'King James his mount'. What was later to become Lions Head he dubbed 'Ye Sugar loafe'. Not about to miss an opportunity to achieve ever lasting fame, he named the present day Devils peak, 'Herbert's Mount'.
Unfortunately, on his return to England, King James showed scant enthusiasm for his latest possession and it was left for the Dutch to move in. When the Dutch sailor, Jan van Riebeeck arrived in 1652 with few more than a 100 souls, he landed at 'Leeuwenstraat" (Lions Tail) - the present day Granger Bay, which of course was attached to 'De Leeuwenbergh', the Lions rump.
Herbert's Mount became Windebergh, but over five centuries and in many languages Table Mountain has always been seen, and surely will always be seen, as Table Mountain.
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