THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 57 



of mind for long. Vanishing into the bush we made off 

 to our rocky retreat. After that experience, whenever we 

 went ant-collecting on the road, we posted a sentry at 

 each side, so as to have a good view along the road in both 

 directions. 



CAPTURED 



My clan live in the rocky hills not far from Grahamstown 

 in the Cape of Good Hope. When raiding a mealie field, 

 our clan was outflanked, some of our people were killed, 

 and several of the children were captured. I was one of 

 those children. Our sentinel gave the alarm, alas ! too 

 late. My mother hurried me along, helping me every now 

 and then, and lifting me over obstacles. I was too big for 

 her to carry all the time. In her anxiety to save me, she 

 lost her own life, because she lagged behind refusing to 

 desert me. I saw her throw up her arms and fall. Then 

 blood ran from her mouth. Partly rising she pushed me 

 from her, and signed to me to run. Then she quivered 

 and gasped, and with a shudder she died. My grief was 

 so great, I threw my arms round her neck and tried to get 

 her to show some sign she was not dead. I saw a farmer 

 coming, but I wouldn't leave my mother, even though 

 she were dead. Well, I was captured and taken away to a 

 farm. A dog's collar was strapped round my loins, and I 

 was chained up. I was treated very kindly, and soon grew to 

 love the farmer's children. I made friends with the dogs 

 and the cats, and even the fowls and ducks. I became so 

 tame that the children used to let me loose every now 

 and then, and we played hide-and-seek and all kinds of 

 lovely games. I would have been allowed to run about 

 aU the time, but you see, somehow, we baboonfolk are so 

 very inquisitive that we cannot leave things alone. If we 

 see anything strange we want to find out all about it. 



