I 
AFRICA. 141 
very cunning : when he found any of this root, 
if I was not near him to claim my part, he 
made great hafte to devour it, having his eyes 
all the time direded towards me. By the 
diftance I had to go before I could approach 
him, he judged of the time that he had to eat 
it alone ; and I indeed arrived too late. Some- 
times, however, when he was deceived in his 
calculation, and w^hen I came upon him foon- 
• er than he expedled, he inftantly endeavoured 
to conceal the morfels from me: but, by means 
of a blow well applied, I obliged him to reftore 
the theft ; and in my turn becoming mafter of 
the envied prey, he was obliged to receive 
laws from the ftronger party. Kees enter- 
tained no hatred or rancour ; and I eafily made 
him comprehend how deteftable that bafe 
felfifhnefs was, of which he had fet me an 
example. 
To tear up thefe roots, he purfued a very 
ingenioua method, which afforded me much 
amufement. He laid hold of the tuft of leaves 
with his teeth ; and preffing his fore paws 
firmly againft the earth, and drawing his head 
backwards, the root generally followed : when 
this method, which required confiderable force, 
( did 
