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their bodies totally different from the human ; 

 ever, as they grasp their food, with one hand, which 

 beasts cannot do, this single similitude gives them an 

 air of sagacity, to which they have scarce any other 

 pretensions. 



The Baboon, is from three to four feet high, very 

 strong built, with a thick body and limbs, and cauinr 

 teeth, much longer than those of men. It walks 

 more commonly upon all fours than upright, and its 

 hands as well as its feet are armed with Jong, sharp 

 claws, instead of the broad, round nails of the ape- 

 kind. 



At the Cape of Good Hope, they are under a sort 

 of natural discipline, and go about whatever they un- 

 dertake with surprising skill and regularity. When 

 they set about robbing an orchard or vineyard, (for 

 they are extremely fond of grapes, and apples) they 

 go in large companies, and with pre-concerted delibe- 

 ration ; part of them enter the enclosure, while one 

 is set to watch. The rest stand without the fence, 

 and form a line reaching ail the way from their fellows 

 within to the rendezvous without, which is generally 

 in some craggy mountain. Every thing being thus 

 disposed, the plunderers within the orchard throw the 

 fruit to those that are without as fast as they can ga- 

 ther it ; or, if the wall or hedge be high, to those 

 that sit on the top ; and these hand the plunder to 

 those next them on the other side. Thus the fruit is 

 pitched from one to another all along the line, till it is 

 safely deposited at their head quarters. They catch it 

 as readily as the most skilful tennis-player can a bail; 

 and while the business is going forward, a profound 

 silence is observed. Their sentinel, during this whole 

 time, continues upon the watch, and if he perceives 

 any one x coming, instantly sets up a loud cry, on which 

 signal, the whole company scamper off. Nor yet 

 are they willing to go empty handed ; for if they be 

 plundering a bed of melons, for instance, they go off 

 with one in their mouths, one in their hands, and one 

 under their arm. N If the pursuit is hot, they drop first 

 that from under their arm, then that from their hand ; 



