88 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



attacked, and the krantz was so situated that we couldn't 

 be surrounded. 



Scattering through the bush, those of us who were able 

 gathered food, for we were dreadfully hungry. Storing all 

 we could in our cheek pouches, and carrying what we 

 could in our hands, we returned and fed our wounded 

 comrades. 



A GOOD AND USEFUL FRIEND 



I am a slave to a hunter-man. He captured me when I 

 was a boy, and I have lived with him ever since. I am now 

 nine years of age. My master thinks I am worth my weight 

 in gold. I have heard him telling his friends ever so many 

 times that I have not only saved his life many times over, 

 but also that of his men, and his oxen, horses, and dogs. 

 He says he wouldn't dream of penetrating some of the 

 places where he has gone at times without me. 



First he trained me to be a voerlooper, which means a 

 leader of oxen. I rather like this work, because as I lead 

 the oxen along, I can pick up and eat the beetles which 

 crawl about the roads. 



Then my master trained me to find water for him. 

 When I understood what was required of me, I went about 

 the business willingly, because I love my master, for he is 

 so kind and gentle with me. You see you humanfolk can't 

 talk our language, so it takes a good while for us to under- 

 stand each other, especially when you want to teach us about 

 something we have never done in that way before. 



South Africa isn't like England. In the latter country 

 the people growl and grumble all the time about having 

 too much rain. In South Africa, almost wherever you go, 

 the humanfolk, the baboonfolk, and the other creatures 

 complain that they don't get half enough. Often in the 

 Karoo for a whole year, and even two or three years, hardly 



