128 APES, MONKEYS, AND LEMURS 



devoted to the cult of these animals ; while in Thebes a special necropolis was ar- 

 ranged for the preservation of their mummified bodies. In spite, however, of its 

 sacred character, the ancient Egyptians, if we may trust their sculptors, were not 

 averse to making use of the sacred baboon in the ordinary affairs of life. For in- 

 stance, there is a bas-relief extant representing a fruit-bearing sycamore, in the 

 branches of which are three monkeys, which from their long snouts, well-developed 

 tails, and thickly -haired shoulders and necks, may be at once recognized as Arabian 

 baboons. On either side of the tree are two slaves, with baskets laden with syca- 

 more-figs, others of which they are receiving from the hands of the baboons. It 

 thus appears that the ancient Egyptians had succeeded in training these intractable 

 animals to gather fruit and hand it to their masters, precisely after the fashion 

 that the modern Malays are said to have trained a langur in Sumatra to perform a 

 similar kind of service ; the fruit in the one case being sycamore-figs, and in the 

 other cocoanuts. 



In addition to being represented on the monuments of Egypt, it appears highly 

 probable that of two large monkeys sculptured on a bas-relief on one of the obelisks 

 brought by Sir Henry Layard from Nimroud, the one depicted with a heavy mantle 

 of fur on the shoulders is intended for the Arabian baboon. 



Under the general heading of baboons we have already alluded to 

 Rudolph's account of this species in the seventeenth century. There 

 are many later descriptions of the habits of this species, but we shall content ourselves 

 with some of the more recent of these. Mr. Blanford, in his account of the Natural 

 History of Abyssinia, relates his first meeting with these baboons when on the 

 march to Magdala in the following words : ' ' On rising the next morning I saw a 

 singular spectacle. A large troop of baboons, at least two hundred in number, were 

 hunting for any corn dropped upon the ground in the place where the horses had 

 been picketed. They were the first I had seen, though the sight of these uncouth 

 monkeys soon became familiar enough. The species (C. hamadryas) is the well- 

 known dog-faced baboon of Northeastern Africa and Arabia, the same which is 

 frequently represented on Egyptian monuments. The male is a most formidable- 

 looking animal, something between a lion and a French poodle in appearance, with 

 long hair over his shoulders and fore parts. ' ' 



In another part of the same work the writer just quoted observes that in 

 Abyssinia this baboon "was met with everywhere, from the plains around Annes- 

 ley Bay to the top of the Dalanta plateau, although most abundant, perhaps, in the 

 tropical and subtropical parts of the country. I saw a small herd close to Theo- 

 dore's old camp at Baba, on the Dalanta plateau, at about nine thousand feet of ele- 

 vation. In the passes leading from the table-land to the coast, immense numbers 

 were constantly seen, and the animals evidently keep much to the sides of rocky 

 ravines. 



' ' The herds vary in number ; some cannot include much less than from two 

 hundred and fifty to three hundred monkeys of all ages. The old males usually 

 take the lead when the troop is moving, some of them also bringing up the rear ; 

 others placing themselves on high rocks or bushes, and keeping a sharp lookout 

 after enemies. A troop collected on a rocky crag presents a most singular appear- 



