The lake may have some historical significance. Schlechter's Nek should be Slagtersnek, a settlement in the Cape Colony where the British put down a rebellion of Boers and hanged the leaders in 1815. It has nothing to do with the chess master Carl Schlechter. Theosophy was a controversial spiritual movement of the time, founded by Elena Blavatsky in 1875. In August 1896 a band of American theosophists were seeking converts in London.
Catechism is a familiar word.
Perhaps it was in the news because a religious body was rewriting its catechism. Lastly, Madjesoomalops has me baffled. The spelling is Dutch, but the word looks Javanese. It may be another reference to the Boers. Back to the Colonel's Chess Page .