d THE CHACMA. 65 
Many a time have these reckless animals paid for their audacity by their life. The whole 
affair is the work of only a few seconds. The baboon is scampering away in hot haste, 
_ and | the hound following at full speed. Suddenly the fugitive casts a quick glance behind 
“him, and seeing that he has only one antagonist close upon him, wheels round, springs on 
Fthe dog before it can checls itself, and in an instant flings the dyi ing hound on the earth, 
© the blood pouring in torrents from its mangled throat. 
Of the Dog-headed baboons, the species which is most celebrated for such feats of . 
prowess is the well-known animal called the CHacma, or Urstnr Bapoon, the latter title 
being given to it on account of the slightly bear-like aspect of the head and neck. The 
word Chaecma is a corrupted, or rather a contracted form of the Hottentot name 
Tchakamma. The Zulu name for this baboon is Imfena, a much more euphonious word, 
without that odious click, so impossible of achievement by ordinary vocal organs. In the 
same dialect, one which is in almost every case remarkable for the rich softness of its 
intonation, the word “Inkau,” is the synonyme for a monkey. 
This animal, when it has attained its full age, equals in size a large mastiff, or an 
ordinary sized wolf; while, in bodily strength and prowess, it is a match for any two dogs 
that can be brought to attack it. 
Curiously enough, although it is so ruthless an antagonist, being the certain slayer of 
any hound that may come to close quarters, there is no animal which is so eagerly hunted 
by the South African hounds. Experience seems in this case to have lost its proverbially 
instructive powers ; and the cruel death of many comrades by the trenchant fangs of the 
Chacma, has no effect in deterring the ardent hound from attacking the first baboon that 
comes in its way. 
The owners of the hounds are more careful in this matter than are the dogs them- 
selves, and evince more caution in setting their dogs on the track of a baboon than on the 
“spoor” of a leopard, or even of the regal lion himself. 
The Chacma is a most accomplished robber, executing his burglaries openly whenever 
he knows that he will meet with no formidable opposition, and having recourse to silent 
craft when there are dogs to watch for trespassers, and men with guns to shoot thei. 
With such consummate art do these animals plan, and with such admirable skill do 
they carry out their raids, that even the watchful band 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 
but beguiled sentries. 
In such a case, the mode to which they resort is clever in the extreme. 
They know full well, that if a number 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 eliding softly past the sentry Wogs, find 
admission by some crevice, or by the simpler mode of climbing over the fence. 
Meanwhile, the rest of the band array 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 sté ulkks, 
as the case may be, and quietly hand the booty to the comrade 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, i ina manner similar to that which is employed in handing 
water-buckets tu a fire-engine. When a sufficient amount of plunder has been secured, the 
invading party quietly make their retreat, and revel in security on their ill-gotten goods, 
Although on service for the general weal, each individual baboon is not unmindful of 
his personal interest ; and w hile he hands the booty to his next neighbour, deftly es a 
portion into his pouches, much on the same principle that an accomplished epicure, while 
busily carving for the assembled guests, never loses sight of his own particular predilec- 
tion, and w hen he has exhausted the contents of the dish, quietly ¢ assumes {he portion 
which he had laid aside. 
When young, the Chacma is docile enough, and by its curious tricks affords much 
amusement to its master and those around it. Not only for amusement, however, is this 
le F 
