BAB-EL-MANDEB 



525 



BABOON 



wandered to the plain of Shinar, in Mesopo- 

 tamia, and began to build a tower which should 

 reach to heaven; but Jehovah caused their 

 "speech to be confounded," so that no man 

 understood his neighbor, and the work was left 

 unfinished. The word babel has been adopted 

 into the English language to express a con- 

 fusion of sounds, but it means gate of God, and 

 not contusion, as is usually supposed. The 

 T of Babel has been identified with one 

 of the important buildings of ancient Babylon, 

 the great temple of Belus (or Bel). 



BAB-EL-MANDEB, a strait connecting the 

 Red Sea with the Arabian Sea and the Indian 

 Ocean, and separating the Arabian peninsula, 

 at the extreme southwest, from the continent 

 of Africa. The name, meaning gate of sor- 

 row, was applied to the strait because it has 

 always been a dangerous channel for small 

 sailing ships. The shore rises high on both 

 sides, for on the east the strait is bordered by 

 tli cape of the same name, 865 feet in altitude, 

 and on the west by the steep African coast, 

 reaching its highest point 400 feet above the 

 sea. Not far from the African shore is a group 

 of volcanic islets called the Eight Brothers. 

 An island in the strait divides it into two 

 channels, of which the one on the east, two 

 miles wide, affords the better anchorage. 



BABES IN THE WOODS, a favorite nursery 

 tale about two children who were left to die 

 in the forest by a wicked uncle. As they lie 

 down to sleep the robins cover them with 

 leaves. The origin of the story is unknown. 



BABIRUSSA, or BABYRUSSA, babiroo' sa, 

 a Dutch word meaning pig deer, is the Malay 

 name for the wild hog. It has a rough and 

 nearly-naked skin, and inhabits Celebes, Burn 

 and other East Indian islands. It does not 



growth of its upper canine teeth, which ex- 

 tend upward through openings in the skin on 

 each side of the snout and curve backward 

 nearly to the eyes, then downward and forward 

 again. The flesh is highly esteemed by the 

 natives and is said to be more delicate in flavor 

 than pork. In some sections of its range the 

 animal is nearly exterminated. 



BABOON, bob oon' r an ape distinguished by 

 its long, dog-like muzzle. In ancient Egypt the 

 baboon was regarded as sacred, and divine 

 honors were paid to it on account of its sup- 



IRUSSA 

 Male and female. 



root in the ground as do nbcrs of its 



family, but feeds upon fallen fruit and vege- 



The male is remarkable for the curious 



BABOONS 



posed superhuman wisdom. Its deep-set eyes, 

 heavy eyebrows and serious-looking mouth give 

 the animal an expression which could easily 

 give rise to such a superstition. 



Most baboons are about the size of a large 

 dog. Their four legs are nearly equal in length 

 and are all used in walking; in fact, it is 

 difficult for a baboon to hold itself upright in 

 the familiar attitude- of other monkeys. Strong 

 tusk teeth. larp flabby cheek-pouches and 

 long tails are other characteristics of the ani- 

 mal. It is usually a sullen creature, wlmh 

 defends itself by hurling stones or other handy 

 missiles, but in Celebes is found a species of 

 smaller stature which is quite amiable. This is 

 the species usually seen in captivity. 



Baboons li\< m hrrds and eat fruits, roots, 

 eggs or insects. In South Africa the pig-tailed 

 baboon or chacma, which lives in rocky regions 

 because it is a poor tree climber, is fought by 

 the natives because of the damage it does to 

 crops. This type is grayish brown, with long 

 shaggy hair. The hamadryad of Abyssinia, the 

 species once held sacred, has a cape of h air 

 about its shoulders. See MANDRILL; MONKEY. 



