NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



developed muscles, eventually loosened a ton-weight 

 boulder, and accompanied by guttural yells of 

 excitement from the ferrety-eyed Hottentots, it 

 launched itself forth, and with ever-increasing speed 

 plunged into a deep pool at the foot of the hill, 

 deluging my friend who, unknown to me, had 

 sneaked off and lay under a shady tree sleeping off 

 the effects of a poison known as alcohol, which he 

 had partaken of at a dance the evening previous. 



After dislodging about a dozen rocks, there, in a 

 crack between two boulders, we caught a glimpse 

 of some brown fur and two hind-legs. Seizing the 

 legs, one of our men began to pull gently, then more 

 forcibly ; but no ! the Dassie seemed part of the rock 

 itself, and it was apparent if more force were applied 

 its legs would be torn from the body ; so we dis- 

 lodged some more rocks and, huddled together, there 

 lay a family of five Dassies. Then I found out some- 

 thing I had not known before about Dassies. The 

 reason we could not pull them out of the crevice 

 was because they inflated themselves and, like a 

 swollen foot in a boot, could not be withdrawn except 

 by using considerable force. They did not attempt 

 to use their toes to aid them, they just distended 

 their bodies, as do the various rock lizards when 

 attempts are made to pull them from a crevice by 

 the tail or back legs. In addition to distending its 

 body, and thus jamming itself against the sides of 

 the crevice, the Dassie also often adheres to the 

 rock surface with the suction-pads on its feet. 



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