54 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



and families, and built houses. Then they began to cut 

 down the bushes which had provided us with wild fruits 

 and berries, and ploughed up all the best land where we 

 got most of our bulbs and roots. They sowed seed in 

 this land. When the plants grew and bore fruit, we from 

 afar were curious, and our curiosity grew and grew. Our 

 wise men counselled us not to go near those farmerfolk, 

 for they had heard tales from other far-distant baboonfolk 

 of what a terrible people they were, if their anger were 

 aroused. We couldn't see any harm in just going along 

 to have a look, and examine those curious stalks and things 

 which grew in their gardens. 



Anyway we talked it over, and from day to day our 

 desire grew and grew. We couldn't stand it any longer, 

 so one day five of us sneaked off at daybreak and made for 

 the garden. Of course, when we got there we couldn't 

 resist just tasting the fruit. That was our downfall. It 

 tasted more delicious than anything within our experience. 

 We simply lost our wits, and ate till we couldn't eat any 

 more of that sweet corn, which was young and milky. Your 

 folk call this corn, mealies, maize, or Indian corn. We 

 gathered as much as we could carry, and made off to our 

 home with it. 



ADAM IS TEMPTED, AND FALLS 



When we got home all our folk gathered around us 

 and wanted to take what we had from us, but we hadn't 

 any intention of giving such delicious food away. We 

 intended to store it in a niche in the rocks, and guard it 

 till we were hungry enough to eat it all up. Just when 

 we were squabbling and wrangling and forcibly telling all 

 and sundry to go and get some for themselves, if they 

 wanted it, from the farmer's garden, up stalked our chief. 

 A grizzled old fellow was he, with huge yellow teeth, great 



