I30 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



bough all day long, and not feel a bit tired. When you 

 humanfolk take even one hour's gymnastic exercise, you are 

 tired out. We use every muscle in our bodies every day, 

 and have to work hard for our living, that's why we are so 

 hardy, healthy, and strong. Besides, we don't eat more than 

 is good for us, like so many humanfolk do ; neither do we 

 drink poison, which you call alcohol ; nor do we poison our 

 brains and bodies with nicotine and other poisonous drugs. 

 It is very rare for any of our tribe to die of sickness. We 

 are either killed and eaten by our enemies, shot or trapped 

 by you humanfolk, or we die of old age. 



THE FARMERFOLK HATE US 



The farmerfolk are our greatest enemies. We fear 

 them worse than any other animal, because they are so clever. 

 We thought ourselves cunning and sharp, but they beat 

 us. We live in constant dread of them. They lay traps 

 for us and hunt us, because they say we steal their crops. 

 We don't call it by that name. You see, the country was 

 ours long ages before you humanfolk came trespassing here. 

 The broad veld, the forests and streams, were our hunting- 

 grounds. Then the humanfolk came and pegged out all 

 the most fertile parts, where the juiciest bulbs grew, and the 

 shrubs which teemed with the sweetest of berries and fruits. 

 They even invaded our forest homes, and have cut down 

 and burned whole forests. When they planted corn, 

 vegetables, and fruits, of course we thought, and we still 

 think, we have a perfect right to help ourselves, and we do 

 whenever we get the chance. 



We have learned from bitter experience to be careful. 

 In the past our folk were shot in hundreds by those farmer- 

 folk, because they were too venturesome. Now, when we 

 raid the mealie or pumpkin fields, or invade the orchards 

 or vegetable gardens, we plan it all out, and place our 



