THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 113 



It had been my intention to ask the chief to post another 

 sentry in my place, so that I might get something to eat, 

 but when I saw the other folk suffering such pain and 

 rolling about in the sand, I grew suspicious, and naturally 

 thought that the shellfish in some mysterious way had 

 caused the trouble, so I wisely refrained from eating any. 

 Our chief, although suffering frightfully from cramps in 

 his inside, proposed a general retreat to the kloof, which 

 we had chosen as our new home. But it was easier said 

 than done. Fully half our number were quite unable to 

 walk. As the afternoon wore on, several of the children 

 died, and two or three of the grown-up folk. 



THE MASSACRE 



Although distracted with grief I kept to my post, and 

 well it was that I did, for from over a mound about a 

 quarter of a mile away, two farmerfolk and a Hottentot 

 came riding, accompanied by many dogs. They were 

 evidently out hunting game. I gave several cries of alarm 

 to impress my people with the gravity of the danger. Our 

 chief instantly shouted a command to follow him, and 

 made off. Many of the folk obeyed. Others made des- 

 perate efforts to do so, but somehow they seemed to have 

 almost lost the use of their legs, and staggered like human- 

 folk when they drink a lot of that poison they call alcohol. 



By this time the dogs had scented us, and came with 

 a rush upon us, followed by their masters. I fled in terror. 

 Reaching a rocky kopje I clambered up and looked eagerly 

 shorewards. The sight which flashed upon my brain 

 almost froze the marrow in my bones. Our folk were 

 scrambling painfully about, scattered in all directions. 

 Some were lying upon the sand impotently tossing their 

 arms and legs unable to rise. The farmer men and the 

 Hottentot were busy shooting them down as fast as they 



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