Van Hunks Smoking with the Devil
This is an old folktale that’s taught to every child in Cape Town. It’s a go-to to explain the heavy cloud that usually blankets Devil’s Peak and forms a fluffy tablecloth on Table Mountain.
The story goes that an old pirate named Van Hunks used to trek up the mountain and smoke his pipe there under a tree. He did it so often and was so good at puffing away that eventually, the Devil grew curious.
So, one day when Van Hunks reached his favourite smoking spot, he found a man sitting there, who asked him for a light. Van Hunks obliged and was soon challenged to a smoking competition. He was confident of his skill and he had the time, so the old pirate said sure, why not!
The pair sat puffing and puffing until a thick smoke shrouded the whole mountain. And finally, after hours of hard smoking, Van Hunks won! The stranger conceded defeat, coughing and sputtering and generally feeling both exhausted and way above lung capacity. And as he left, Van Hunks caught a glimpse of a barbed red tail, and realised he’d spent his day smoking with the devil. And while the devil is one to hold a grudge, he does like a good bit of competition.
And so, whenever the clouds cover our mountains, we say that Van Hunks and the devil are at it again, smoking up a storm.
After VAN Hunks won the smoking competition with the Devil a new man appeared and a smoking challenge was made. VAN HUNKS loved nothing more than sitting on the mountain, enjoying his pipe while relaxing and puffing smoke and always ready for a smoking competition.
Van Hunks accepted the mans smoking challenge and they began another epic smoking contest. For hours, thick clouds of smoke rose from the mountain, covering the sky. Van Hunks, proud and determined, noticed something strange. The stranger's eyes began to glow red, and with a grin, he revealed his true identity—the Devil himself who returned for a re-match.
But it was too late. Van Hunks had won the re-match contest. Infuriated, the Devil vanished, leaving behind swirling clouds of smoke that still shroud Table Mountain today. Locals say that when the "tablecloth" of clouds covers the peak, it's Van Hunks and the Devil having a rematch.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: The Devil has many disguises and can pull you in like a master clickbater?
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Your allegiance to Jesus and God.
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: How to keep the Devil away? The closer you get to God, the further you are from the Devil.
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