THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 71 



possessed of brains of considerable size, and they have 

 schools in which wise people teach them many kinds of 

 things. They have weapons of destruction which we are 

 unable to either use or make. They are a people of great 

 resource. If they are outwitted in one way, they quickly 

 devise a means of turning the tables upon their enemies. 

 There are many wise men amongst them. These wise men 

 study Nature. They know all our ways and habits. They 

 are learning new things every day. We must therefore be 

 wary. Information comes to hand from time to time of 

 how they have encompassed the destruction of our people 

 in distant parts of the land. I submit, it is now too risky 

 to boldly penetrate their mealie fields as of yore. The last 

 time we did so a new surprise was sprung upon us. The 

 humanfolk had dug pits in the mealie gardens whilst we 

 slept. Men hid themselves in these pits before we were 

 astir in the morning. Others covered the pits over so 

 cleverly, that even our practised eyes were deceived. When 

 we were busy eating mealies and collecting cobs to take 

 home a volley of loopers was poured into us, with the 

 direst results. As you know I was stricken down myself, 

 but managed to crawl away and hide in a bush. It was 

 long before I recovered from my wounds. No, my friends, 

 it is not enough that we post sentries. We have a clever 

 enemy to deal with. I have a plan. It is not, however, 

 without some element of danger, but the danger will not 

 be for all. It will be confined to the few. Those few will 

 volunteer for the dangerous duty. 



THE PROPOSAL 



" I propose to select a spot at the far corner of the mealie 

 field, adjacent to the mimosa bush and rocky, bush-covered, 

 broken country, where the humanfolk can penetrate only 

 with extreme difficulty. The members of our clan will 



