I40 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



adventures I have had theyVould fill a book. When I grew 

 to manhood I was an athlete. As time went on my strength 

 increased, and I grew larger than any of the other monkey- 

 folk of my tribe. I had already had many fights with those 

 who claimed to be stronger than I. Finding I was able 

 to beat them all, I began to harbour ambitious thoughts. 

 The chief of our clan was a big hulking fellow, with huge 

 muscles and large sharp teeth. He kept us young menfolk 

 in abject subjection, and compelled us to do his bidding. 

 Woe betide any one of us who dared to dispute his authority. 



I let another year go by, and finding my strength had 

 increased a great deal, I determined to make an attempt 

 to overthrow the chief, and become leader of the clan 

 myself. Failure meant death, or flight and a life of solitude. 

 I took those risks. One day, when I was feeling at my best, 

 I picked a quarrel with the chief. With a roar of rage he 

 sprang upon me. We fought long and desperately. I 

 broke away from him whenever I could, and pretended 

 to be beaten. Leaping from branch to branch I decoyed 

 him on, until I saw he was growing tired. I closed again 

 and after a long and terrible fight I killed him. I didn't 

 mean to take his life. As a rule, when a chief is beaten, 

 he escapes into the bush, and lives by himself, unless a few 

 of the womenfolk care to follow him, as is often the case. 



DRIVEN INTO EXILE 



I assumed the chieftainship, much to the envy of my 

 friends. You see, we monkeyfolk rise to power by physical 

 strength and courage. Might is right with us. With you 

 humanfolk it is the man with the best quality of brains 

 who usually rises to the top. People who live just to 

 eat and drink and gratify their animal instincts are not 

 of much account, even if they should have plenty of 

 money, or belong to what you call the aristocracy. We 



