156 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



ancestors, and when they died their bodies were carefully 

 cured, wrapped up in scores of yards of fine linen, and 

 laid away in tombs specially carved out of the rocks. They 

 also brag and boast because they happen to be the ancestors 

 of your tame pussy cats, which so many boys treat so cruelly. 

 Oh ! you needn't deny it. I have, from my leafy nest on 

 the outskirts of a village, often watched boys skulking along 

 the hedgerows with catapults and air-guns, on the look-out 

 for cats basking in the sun. Yes, and many a time I have 

 seen cruel cowardly boys make their dogs attack and worry 

 poor cats to death. 



THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 



Well, I suppose, if the owls, the wild cats, and the 

 pythons, didn't make a meal of us now and then, we would 

 get too plentiful, and there would not be enough food for 

 us. You see, when we have plenty of enemies it makes us 

 tactful, careful, resourceful, and in fact develops all our 

 faculties, and makes us prepared to meet almost any 

 emergency. You town fellows do not use a quarter of the 

 natural powers that the great God has given to you. Why, 

 now, how can you expect to be keen, clever, bright, 

 noble, manly, and ready to meet any sudden and unex- 

 pected event if you go mooning about smoking cigarettes 

 which poison your brain, nerves, and body, and stunt your 

 growth, and never go out and study nature in the bush, 

 with camera, note-book, and field-glasses ? Go out and 

 track the various creatures to their lairs, and take pictures 

 of them, and write about their ways and habits in your 

 note-book. 



CAUGHT NAPPING 



Somehow, I don't know why, but when the sun gets 

 up, we night apes begin to get dreadfully drowsy, and 



