THE CHACMA,—Cynocéphalus porcarius, 
completed, I had discovered my mistake ; the little old man turned into an ursine baboon 
with an infant ditto, who had come down the Kloof to drink. The ‘old man’s’ cough 
was answered by a dozen others, at present hidden in the fogs ; soon, however,” 
““*Up rose the sun, the mists were curl’d 
Back from the solitary world 
Which lay around,’ 
and I obtained a view of the range of mountains gilded by the morning sun. 
“A large party of the old ge ntleman’s family were sitting up the ravine, and were 
evidently holding a debate as to the cause of my intrusion. I watched them through my 
glass, and was much amused at their grotesque and almost human movements. Some of 
the old ladies had their olive branches in their laps, and appeared to be ‘ doing their 
hair,” while a patriarchal old fellow paced backwards and forwards with a fussy ‘sort of 
look ; he was evidently on sentry, and seemed to think himself of no small importance. 
“This estimate of his dignity did not appear to be universally acknowledged ; as two 
or three young baboons sat close behind him watching his proceedings ; some time s with 
the most grotesque movements and expressions they would stand direc tly in his path, and 
hobble away only at the last moment. One daring youngster followed close on the heels 
of the patriarch ‘during the whole length of his beat, and gave a sharp tug at his tail as 
he was about to turn. The old fellow seemed to treat it with the ereatest indifference, 
scarcely turning round at the insult. Master Impudence was about repeating the perform- 
ance, when the pater, showing that he was not such a fool as he looked, suddenly sprang 
round, and catching the young one before he could escape, gave him two or three such 
cuffs, that I could “hear the screams that resulted therefrom. The venerable gentleman 
F2 
