THE CAPE BABOON OR BAVIAN 



and in this way they succeeded in crossing the 

 turbid stream. If the Jacks had a big task, that of 

 the mothers with the youngsters on their backs was 

 still greater. The little army of baboons was so 

 long getting over this one crossing that the river 

 had visibly increased in volume before they were all 

 over. The last to get across had a most precarious 

 time of it, as their jumping-stones were now under 

 water. 



When the last of the big baboons had got over, 

 it was seen that two youngsters had been left behind. 

 These could neither join the army across the flood, 

 nor could their seniors return to assist them. When 

 this was noted by the army leaders, a tremendous 

 noisy, barking, chattering din was set up, in which 

 the youngsters on the other side plaintively joined. 

 This was maintained for some time, when the army 

 dwindled away in the semi-darkness up the kloof at 

 the back of the Castle Mountains. The two deserted 

 youngsters stayed for a while longer at the brink, 

 and then slowly retraced their steps the way they 

 had come from the west. 



The educated traveller in the Cape Province is 

 astonished to see the Cactus plant, commonly known 

 as the Prickly Pear, growing abundantly on the stony 

 hills and rocky slopes of the valleys, and wonders 

 how it got there. This cactus plant was introduced 

 from Mexico into South Africa by the Voortrekker 

 Dutch, owing to its usefulness in fence making. 

 It was also planted round the cattle and sheep kraals 



VOL. 1 49 4 



