THE VERVET MONKEY OR BLUE APE 



trees at the top of the kloof they were able to observe 

 the approach of an enemy, afar off. They were alto- 

 gether too wise to plan their raids always at the same 

 time of day. Knowing the humanf oik were not noc- 

 turnal by habit, and that they were invariably safely 

 in bed asleep by midnight, the monkeys would steal 

 forth in the grey dawn of the morning and during 

 moonlight nights, and lay waste the crops. Seldom 

 were the fields visited twice in succession at the same 

 hour. Watching their chance when the farm lab- 

 ourers were at a safe distance, the entire troop, at a 

 given signal from the leader, would make a sudden 

 dash from cover in broad daylight ; and, stuffing 

 their cheek pouches full of provender from the fields, 

 and seizing a mealie cob or two in the hands, and 

 another with the jaws, they would make off to their 

 forest retreat. 



However, they did not always have it all their 

 own way. The farmer and his sons were busy 

 scheming to get even with them. Poisoned food 

 and traps had failed — a few inexperienced juveniles 

 had fallen victims to the poison and traps, but these 

 apes are worldly wise — yes, wiser than many of the 

 humanfolk, for they profit by experience ; and no 

 matter how cleverly and temptingly the farmer laid 

 the poisoned bait; or how cunningly he concealed the 

 nature of his traps, the monkeys were too cunning and 

 observant, and their senses of taste and smell were far 

 too acute to allow of them being lured to their death 

 in these ways. If some new means of trapping them 



5 



