32 DIGGING FOR ROOTS.

caressed me! During our journey he would amuse
himself with climbing the trees to search for gum,
which he was very fond of; sometimes he dis-
covered honey in the crevices of the rock, or in
hollow trees. At other times he would dig for
roots, and seemed particularly fond of a kind which,
unluckily for him, I also found extremely good and
refreshing, and persisted in partaking with him.
Kees was artful, and if he happened to find any of
this root when I was at a distance from him, in
order to prevent my coming in for my share, would
eat it up with the greatest eagerness, fixing at the
same time his eyes ardently on me, and seeming to
calculate, by the distance I was at, the time I should
be getting to him. I observed his haste was ever
in proportion to the danger he supposed he ran of
losing part of his prize, and in general he was too
quick for me.

‘He had a very ingenious method of coming at
these roots, which used to amuse me extremely.
He took the tuft of leaves between his teeth, then,
bearing upon his forepaws, forced back his head,
and generally drew out the root to which they ad-
hered. When this means failed, he again took hold
of it closer to the earth, and giving a sudden spring,
never failed to draw it up with him. In our walks,
when he found himself fatigued, he would mount
upon the back of one or other of my dogs, who