THE CHACMA. 



rectli and massive jaws are tlirowai into the scale, it will be seen that hardly the 

 leopard itself is a more formidable animal. 



Tlie teeth are formed in a manner which pecnliarly fits them for the mode of 

 attack that is employed by all the baboons. The great canine teeth are long and 

 {)ointed at their tips, while their inner edge is sharp as that of a knife, and can 

 cut with more effect than many a steel weapon. 



Knowing well the power of the terrible armature with which he he is gifted, 

 the enraged baboon leaps n])on his foe, and drawing it towards him with his 

 hands and feet, fixes his teeth in its throat until the sharp fangs meet together. 

 He then violently pushes the miserable aggressor from him, so that the keen-edged 

 teeth cut their way through the flesh, and inflicts a wound that is often 

 inunediately fatal. 



In this manner they repel the attacks of dogs ; and woe be to the inexperienced 

 hound who is foolish enough to venture its person within grasp of the baboon's 

 feet or hands. 



The Chacma is a most accomplished robber, executing his biu-glaries openly 

 whenever he knows that he will meet with a formi(la])le ojiposition, and having 

 recourse to sik'ut craft when there are dogs to watch for trespassers, and men 

 with guns to shoot them. 



With such consiiiiimate art do these animals ])lan, and with such admirable skill 

 do they carry out tlieir raids, that even the watcliful baud of dogs is comparatively 

 useless ; and the cunning robbers actually slip past the vigilant sentries without 

 the stirring of a grass blade, or the rustling of a dried twig to give notice to the 

 open ears of the wakeful l)ut l)cguiled sentries. 



In such a case, the mode to which they resort is clever in the extreme. 



They know full well, that if a munber of their body were to enter the forbidden 

 domain, they could hardly elude the observation or escape the hearing of dogs 

 and men ; so they commit the delicate task of entering the enemy's domains to 

 one or two old experienced baboons. These take the lead, and gliding softly 

 past the sentry dogs, lind admission by some crevice, or by the simjjler mode of 

 climbing over the fence. 



Meanwhile the rest of the band arrange themselves in a long line, leading from 

 the scene of operations to some spot where they will be out of danger from 

 pursuit. 



All being ready, the venturous leaders begin to pluck the fruit, or to bite off 

 the stalks, as the case may be, and quietly hand the booty to the conu-ade who is 

 nearest to them. He passes the fruit to a third, who again hands it to a fourth ; 

 and thus the spoil is silently conveyed to a distance, in a manner similar to that 

 which is employed in handing water-buckets to a fire-engine. When a sufficient 



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