THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 9 



dead body in a cleft, high up in the krantz where the jackals 

 and wild hunting dogs could not reach it. 



HOW WE CHASED A LEOPARD 



We baboonfolk are very fond of oysters and other shell- 

 fish. We often make excursions down to the seaside, and 

 when the tide is low we go out on the rocks and gather 

 oysters, other kinds of shellfish, and crabs. We sometimes 

 smash the shells by banging them on the rocks, but as a rule, 

 we are able easily to break the shells with our strong teeth. 

 One day we were all busy collecting shells, and hunting 

 under the stones for hermit crabs, whilst our children were 

 playing and romping on the sand. Suddenly, a chorus of 

 terrified shrieks rent the air. Starting up, we were just 

 in time to see a leopard leap amongst our children. We 

 instantly swarmed after him. Seeing us coming in such 

 numbers, he bounded off amongst the scrubby bush, and 

 we followed. We chased him for nearly three miles, but 

 lost his track in the thick bush-covered hills. 



When we returned there was grief and lamentation. 

 Two of our little folk were dead. One had been bitten at 

 the back of the neck, and its neck was broken. The other 

 one's skull had been crushed by the leopard's cruel jaws. 



DROWNED BY THE TIDE 



One of our womenfolk met with a sad end one day. We 

 were busy collecting shellfish out on the rocks by the sea- 

 side. The tide was coming in at the time. Presently one 

 of our women began to cry out, and we saw her struggling 

 desperately on one of the rocks out in the water. We 

 rushed to see what was wrong, and found that a large oyster 

 had closed its shell on her hand. We dragged desperately 

 at the shell to tear it from the rocks, but it was too firmly 



