THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 129 



on both sides of the river are close enough for us to risk a 

 jump. 



OUR HOME LIFE 



When the sun sets we make preparations to go home 

 to bed. Our sleeping-places are the forks of the topmost 

 branches of the great trees, away in the warmest and 

 densest part of the forest. As many of us gather together 

 as the fork of the tree will hold, and we all cling to each 

 other, or to the branches and twigs for support. We bunch 

 ourselves together like this to keep each other warm. 

 Besides, there is safety in numbers — at least sometimes, 

 for often we have been able to frighten off an enemy by 

 all pretending to be getting ready to make a rush at him. 

 When we wrinkle our brows and grin we look very fierce, I 

 can assure you. 



Our womenfolk carry their babies just like the human- 

 folk mothers do. Sometimes they have twins, but not 

 often. They usually only have one baby to look after and 

 rear at a time. The mother monkeys will give up their 

 lives at any time in defence of their children. Many a 

 time I have seen heroic acts, which shows that their mother 

 love is very deep. Mother monkeys never desert or ill- 

 treat their children, as some of your humanfolk mothers do. 



We are very early risers, for as soon as it is light we are 

 up. We don't always get up early, but it isn't because we 

 are lazy. When the trees are laden vnth dew, or if it is 

 raining, then we keep as cosy as we can until the leaves and 

 bushes get dry. We don't like getting wet, because our 

 fur gets so draggly, and we get cold and shivery. 



WE ARE STRONG AND TOUGH 



We look lanky and thin, but I can assure you we are 

 wiry and strong. We can jump and swing from bough to 



