io8 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



lay there for a long time in a fainting condition. Not from 

 the fall, but from the terrible fright I had got, for there was 

 a snake inside that packet — a reptile which I fear with an 

 appalling, instinctive fear. It was a cruel joke to play 

 on me, but I dare say those ignorant youths didn't think it 

 would have affected me so dreadfully. For weeks after- 

 wards I would start nervously when a leaf blew, or a twig 

 fell, or was moved by the wind. At night I would start 

 up with a cry, imagining snakes were attacking me. Nearly 

 every night for a week I dreamt of snakes. 



THE GORILLA 



The gorilla is what you call an anthropoid ape, which 

 means a man-like ape, because he looks so much like a human 

 animal. There is a legend in our tribe to the effect that 

 long ages ago, one of the clans of our baboonfolk made their 

 home in the great forests of Central Africa, where the trees 

 grow very large, and the creeping plants climb up the 

 branches and spread themselves out on top of the trees like 

 great umbrellas, preventing the sunlight from shining 

 through. It is thought that by living in these great gloomy 

 forests in a tropical climate, these apes grew large and power- 

 ful, and altered a good deal in shape, as well as losing their 

 tails. We cannot exactly prove that the gorillas are the 

 aristocracy of the baboon tribe, but there is very good 

 reason to suppose they are an offshoot from us. 



WE ARE STRONG AND TOUGH 



We baboonfolk are very strong and tough. We recover 

 quite easily from injuries which would kill you humanfolk. 

 You see, we live the simple life, and take plenty of exercise. 

 It is the kind of life we lead which makes us so healthy and 

 strong. We can survive a dose of poison which would kill 



