THEIR HABITS. 
147 
up the trees in order to search for game, of which lie was remarkably fond. Sometimes he discovered 
honey in the crevices of rocks, or in hollow trees, but when he found nothing, when fatigue and 
exercise had whetted his appetite, and when he began to be seriously oppressed with hunger, a scene 
took place which appeared to me exceedingly comic. When he could not find game or honey, he 
searched for roots, and ate them with relish, especially one of a particular species, which, unfortunately 
for me, I found excellent and very refreshing, and which I wanted greatly to partake of. But Kees 
was very cunning. When he found any of this root, if I was not near him to claim my part, he made 
great haste to devour it, having his eyes directed all the time towards me. By the distance 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. Sometimes, however, when he was deceived in his calculation, and when I came upon him 
sooner than he expected, he instantly endeavoured to conceal the morsels from me ; but by means of 
a blow well applied I compelled him to restore the theft ; and in my turn becoming master of the 
envied prey, he was obliged to receive laws from the offended party. 
Kees entertained no rancour or hatred, and I easily made him compre- 
hend how detestable was that base selfishness of which he had set me 
an example. To tear up these roots Kees employed an ingenious method, 
which afforded me much amusement. He laid hold of the tuft of leaves 
with his teeth, and pressing his four paws firmly against the earth, and 
drawing his head backwards, the root generally followed. When this 
method did not succeed, he seized the tuft as before, as close to the earth 
as he could, then throwing his heels over his head, the root always 
yielded to the jerk he gave it. In our marches, when he found himself 
tired, lie got upon the back of one of my Dogs, which had the complai- 
sance to carry him for whole hours together. One only, which was larger 
and stronger than the rest, ought to have served him for this purpose ; 
but the cunning animal well knew how to avoid this drudgery. 
The moment he perceived Kees on his shoulders, he remained motionless, 
and suffered the caravan to pass on, without ever stirring from the spot. 
The timorous Kees still persisted ; but as soon as lie began to lose sight 
of us he was obliged to dismount, and both he and the Dog ran with all their might to overtake us. 
For fear of being surprised, the Dog dexterously suffered him to get before him, and watched him 
with great attention. In short, he had acquired an ascendancy over my whole pack, for which he 
was perhaps indebted to the superiority of his instinct ; for among animals, as among men, address 
often gets the better of strength. While at his meals Kees coidd not endure guests ; if any of the 
Dogs approached too near him at that time, he gave them a hearty blow, which these poltroons never 
returned, but scampered away as fast as they could. It appeared to me extremely singular, and I 
could not account for it, that next to the Serpent, the animal which, he most dreaded was one of his 
own species ; whether it was that he was sensible that his being tamed had deprived him of great 
part of his faculties, and that fear had got possession of his senses, or that he was jealous and dreaded 
a rivalry in my friendship. Sometimes he heard others of the same species making a noise in 
the mountains ; and notwithstanding his terror, he thought proper, I know not for what reason, 
to reply to them. When they heard his voice they approached ; but as soon as he perceived 
any of them he fled with horrible cries ; and running between our legs, implored the protection 
of everybody, while his limbs quivered through fear. We found it no easy matter to calm him ; 
but he gradually resumed after some time his natural tranquillity. He was very much addicted 
to thieving, a fault common to almost all domestic animals ; but in Kees it became a talent, the 
ingenious efforts of which I admired, and notwithstanding all the correction bestowed on him 
ln y people who took the matter seriously, he was never amended. He knew perfectly well 
how to untie the ropes of a basket to take provisions from it ; and, above all, milk, of which 
be was remarkably fond ; more than once he has made me go without any. I often beat him 
pretty severely myself; but when he escaped from me, he did not appear at my tent till towards 
night. “ Milk in baskets !” why truly the term “ basket,” as applied to a vessel for holding 
milk, appears to require some explanation ; but it -was realiy carried in baskets woven by the 
SKULL OF THE CHACMA. 
