Water, Stone and Legend

In this book, words and images explore the fascinating relationship of San rock art to shamanistic rituals and to stories that are still told in the Klein Karoo to this day, notably those of mythical beings - half human, half fish - who are said to dwell in the solitary springs and watercourses that nourish this semi-arid region. Known in the vernacular as watermeide, these fabled creatures have the power to heal and destroy, to bring life-giving rain or destructive floods.
Filled with a deep reverence for the artists and storytellers of old, Renée Rust and Jan van der Poll have documented a unique piece of living heritage. Through them, the rock begins to breathe and the ancient pictograms reach out to us across the ages.