24 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



out of our enemies. You humanfolk often do just the same. 

 When black men have meat to eat, they partly cook it by- 

 holding it in a fire, impaled on the end of a green stick. 

 Then, if they haven't a knife, they seize it with their teeth, 

 and with their fingers they pull it away from their mouths, 

 thus tearing off pieces. 



AN ADVENTURE WHICH BEFELL ME 



Years and years ago, when I was in the full vigour of my 

 manhood, I was very venturesome. From my cave-shelter 

 high up on a kopje I used to look longingly down upon an 

 orchard away below me. This garden was on the out- 

 skirts of a small town. There was a large mulberry tree 

 in that garden, and I was specially fond of mulberries, and 

 often took big risks to get them. I sat and watched the 

 spreos, the muisvogels, and the bulbuls feasting to their 

 hearts' content, and the sight was too much for me; besides 

 I was frightfully hungry, for there had been almost-incessant 

 rain for two days and I couldn't go out to get any food. All 

 was still and silent. Nobody seemed to be astir, so I made 

 my way to that garden and cHmbed up the mulberry tree. 

 The mulberries were so deHcious, I suppose I must have 

 forgotten the time. A sudden shout for assistance by a 

 woolly-headed Kafir sent a thrill of deadly fear through my 

 frame. Glancing down, I saw him standing at the foot 

 of the tree with a big hoe in his hands. He was eyeing 

 me carefully, in case I should make a sudden leap. Seeing 

 several other Kafirs and a white man coming, I suddenly 

 dropped to the ground, and, just in the nick of time, dodged 

 a smashing blow aimed at me with a hoe. I made off 

 towards my home, but those men divined my intention, and 

 I was headed off. I rushed blindly in the opposite direc- 

 tion, and presently found myself in a street, with houses 

 on both sides. Behind me there quickly gathered a yelling 



