NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



squeals rent the air. In an instant there was an 

 uproar amongst the baboons, and, with one accord, 

 every male member of the troop rushed in the direc- 

 tion of the noise. A leopard had stalked a female 

 baboon and seized her. She clutched a bush and 

 clung on for dear life, and the leopard, seeing the 

 imminent danger he was in, let go his hold and fled, 

 pursued by the yelling, barking crowd of angry 

 baboons. My friend did not wait to see the result 

 of the chase, but crept off as rapidly as possible, 

 fearing lest the enraged troop might detect his 

 presence and attack him. 



The leopards are being rapidly shot off in South 

 Africa by hunters and the pioneer farmers ; and, 

 except in Rhodesia, the baboon has comparatively 

 little to fear from them. 



In the past the Chita, or Hunting Leopard, harried 

 the baboons considerably, but he too is vanishing 

 from South Africa. The arch-enemy of the baboon 

 is Aian. That this interesting ape, which is so 

 human in its ways, should have to be destroyed 

 seems a pity, but sentiment cannot be permitted 

 to bar the way to the population of the earth by 

 the superior animal — Man. It would be a thousand 

 pities, however, if the Cape Baboon, which is so 

 typical of our country, should be allowed to become 

 extinct. No doubt at some future time reserves 

 will be established in which it may lead a peaceful, 

 harmless existence. 



An old pointsman at Uitenhage, who had lost his 



60 



