THE TRUE BABOONS 129 



ance. I several times saw large numbers assembled around springs in the evening 

 in the thirsty Shoho country between Komayle and Senafe. On such occasions 

 every jutting rock, every little stone more prominent than the rest, was occupied by 

 a patriarch of the herd, who sat, with the gravity and watchfulness befitting his 

 grizzled hair, waiting patiently until the last of his human rivals had slaked his. 

 own thirst and that of his cattle. Around, the females were mainly occupied in 

 taking care of the young, the smaller monkeys amusing themselves by gamboling 

 about. Occasionally, if a young monkey became too noisy, or interfered with the 

 repose of his seniors, he ' caught it ' in most unmistakable style, and was dismissed 

 with many cuffs, a wiser if not a better monkey. ' ' 



The same writer mentions that the food of this baboon consists mainly of small 

 fruits, berries, and seeds ; although young shoots and buds of trees form a portion 

 of its diet. Like the rest of its kind, it avoids forests and trees, and keeps 

 mainly to the open country, preferring rocky spots. When it climbs, it does so in a 

 heavy and ungainly manner, very unlike the active movements of the generality of 

 monkeys. Its movements, when on the ground and in a hurry, partake more of the 

 nature of a steady gallop than the bounding motion of other monkeys. 



As Mr. Blanford observes, the association of these baboons in such large troops 

 is doubtless for the purpose of mutual protection. The old males, are indeed, for- 

 midable antagonists, and there are many anecdotes of their attacking, or at least 

 threatening, men. From the circumstance that none of the members of the Abys- 

 sian expedition were attacked by these animals, Mr. Blanford, is, however, of 

 opinion that it is but seldom that such onslaughts take place. There is one well- 

 authenticated instance of a troop combining to attack a leopard which had carried 

 off one of their number. 



We conclude our notice of the species with two accounts given by 



Sir Samuel g ir Samuel Baker, when in the Sudan. "Troops of baboons," ob- 

 Baker's Ob- ,-,. . ,, ,. . ., 



serves Sir Samuel, are now exceedingly numerous, as, the country 

 servations 



being entirely dried up, they are forced to the river for water, and 

 the shady banks covered with berry-bearing shrubs induce them to remain. It 

 is very amusing to watch these great male baboons stalking majestically along, 

 followed by a large herd of all ages, the mothers carrying the little ones upon 

 their backs, the latter with a regular jockey-seat riding most comfortably, while at 

 other times they relieve the monotony of the position by sprawling at full length 

 and holding on by their mothers' back hair. Suddenly a sharp-eyed young ape 

 discovers a bush well covered with berries and, his greedy munching being quickly 

 observed, a general rush of youngsters takes place, and much squabbling for the 

 best place ensues among the boys ; this ends in great uproar, when down comes 

 a great male, who cuffs one, pulls another by the hair, bites another on the hind- 

 quarters just as he thinks he has escaped, drags back a would-be deserter by his 

 tail and shakes him thoroughly ; and thus he shortly restores order, preventing all 

 further disputes by sitting under the bush and quietly enjoying the berries by him- 

 self. These baboons have a great variety of expressions, that may perhaps rep- 

 resent their vocabulary. A few of these I begin to understand, such as the notes 

 of alarm and the cry to direct attention ; thus, when I am sitting alone beneath the 

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