128 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



LONG EXCURSIONS 



We often make quite long excursions over the country. 

 Of course we don't trespass on the hunting-grounds of any 

 neighbouring tribe of monkeyfolk, unless we are strong and 

 know we can drive them off if they should attack us. We 

 know all the localities where the different kinds of fruits, 

 berries, bulbs, and herbs grow. We also know just when 

 they are fit to eat. We monkeyfolk are good naturalists — 

 better than most of you humanfolk. We know just where 

 and when to look for the eggs or young of the various small 

 creatures of veld, mountain, and forest. We know which 

 kinds of bushes to find the nice savoury caterpillars on. We 

 know better than you which caterpillars are poisonous 

 and which are good for food. After a heavy rain certain 

 bulbs are very juicy and sweet, and various buds come 

 forth, and fruits develop. We know just where these grow, 

 so off we go and feast. We often send out scouts, who spy 

 around everywhere, and report anything unusual they 

 may see or find. If it should happen to be a crop of berries, 

 a swarm of caterpillars, beetles, or anything good to eat, 

 we all troop off to the spot. 



Our baboon cousins prefer the rocky part of the country. 

 We like the forests, and, as a rule, you won't find us very far 

 from where there is plenty of water. Our favourite haunts 

 are the forest-covered banks of rivers. The trees and the 

 creepers grow larger and thicker along the banks of rivers, 

 and in the deep kloofs and valleys, and we are thus able to 

 hide better from our enemies. Besides, we find lots of wild 

 fruits, berries, sweet bark, gum, insects, birds' eggs, and other 

 things which are good to eat, in these thick belts of trees. 



We are not a bit afraid of water, and if we find it necessary 

 to get to the opposite side of a river, we swim across. Some- 

 times we swing ourselves across, if the branches of the trees 



