THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 139 



several of our people saw a pile of ripe mealies lying upon 

 the ground. There was a sort of little shelter over them. 

 At first we were suspicious, and examined the surroundings, 

 for we are always on the alert in case the farmerfolk should 

 be playing tricks upon us. The little shelter seemed 

 innocent enough. It was evident to us that it had been 

 arranged to protect the mealies from the rain. Several 

 of us in our greed rushed in together, when, with a thud, 

 something fell in our rear, and we were prisoners — caught 

 in a most ingenious trap. We fought and struggled to open 

 that door. Then we tried every portion of the cage, but, 

 alas ! it was made of strong iron bars. I was one of the 

 captives. One of the other captives was the lady who had 

 her forearm blown away when the gun went off about which 

 I have just been telling you. 



We were all put into another cage by the farmer-man 

 who caught us, and duly sent in to market, on his ox-wagon, 

 strapped on to the top of a load of wattle bark drawn by 

 sixteen oxen. 



Different people bought us, and we were taken away 

 into slavery. We were heartbroken when we were being 

 parted, for we well knew that none of us would ever see each 

 other again, or any of our clan. I have been many years 

 a captive and have grown to like it. In fact, I wouldn't 

 care to go back again to my old life, with all its hardships 

 and dangers. I have a comfortable box, and get plenty to 

 eat, and my master's children come every day to play with 

 me. I have a puppy dog who is my particular chum just 

 now. He is a dear little fellow, and I delight in nursing 

 him, and picking the fleas off him. 



A TALE OF WOE 



I am one of the blue ape or Vervet kind of monkey. I 

 have had a long life, and if I were to tell you all the 



