THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 143 



the dead and decaying timber. In Natal, Zululand, the 

 Eastern Transvaal, and all through Central Africa great 

 thunderstorms and storms of wind rage from time to 

 time. Trees are frequently struck and killed by lightning ; 

 others are overthrown by the raging wind. Others grow 

 old and diseased. The white ants eat up all the trees 

 which fall to the ground, as well as twigs, branches, and 

 other vegetable matter. They also climb up the trunks 

 of the decaying trees, and slowly eat them up. They chew 

 up the woody matter to a pulp and store it away in their 

 underground homes for food for their children. 



These white ants have a queen, who grows fatter than 

 any Kafir chief. She is as thick and long as a humanfolk 

 man's thumb. Every now and again great hosts of fertile 

 male and female ants get wings. Then there are great cele- 

 brations. Those winged white ants swarm out of the nest 

 in millions, and soar away into the air. Those which are 

 not gobbled up by the birds, the animals, the spiders, and 

 toads lose their wings, and start new homes of their own. 



ATTACKED BY A LEOPARD 



These white ants are dainty morsels, for they have such 

 a delicious flavour and are so very nourishing. One day 

 about two dozen of us monkeyfolk were gathered in a 

 bunch, and were all busy capturing the winged white ants, 

 which you call " flying ants." The best way is to sit and 

 pick them up with your finger and thumb, just as they are 

 coming up out of the holes which the worker ants make 

 for them. Then hold the wings and pop the body into your 

 mouth, and the wings come off, which you may throw away. 

 This was what we were all busy doing. In our hurry and 

 greed we hadn't thought of danger and didn't post a sentry, 

 because we were in our own particular retreat, and didn't 

 fear an enemy. Little did we know that a huge leopard 



