

JUMBO'S TRICKS. in 



feelings the longest, and, strange as it may appear, 

 I have often noted this peculiarity to be not alone 

 confined to the weaker sex of inferior animals. 



It was some time before the baboon would make 

 friends with the new additions to the camp, but in a 

 happy moment he discovered that their thick soft 

 coat harboured fleas ; and so, to secure the privi- 

 lege of sporting in such a happy hunting-ground, 

 for the time being assumed his best behaviour. I 

 was present when he made his cttbut, and it was 

 comical in the extreme. The day was warm and 

 oppressive, and all the animals, with the exception 

 of the ape, were reclining wherever they could 

 obtain the greatest amount of shade. The sail of 

 the waggon was fastened from one of its sides 

 to uprights stuck in the ground, and under it I 

 reclined in my chair, smoking my pipe, the position 

 being most eligible for my observation. I saw 

 Jumbo, for that was the entertaining, mischievous 

 scoundrel's name, descend cautiously from his seat 

 on the dissel-boom (pole), and I knew at once that his 

 mind was intent on something, from the extreme 

 caution he exercised in his movements. At last he 

 approached the lions, who were lying on their backs 

 enjoying their ease with the most total disregard to 

 dignity. Neither of them having indicated a 

 knowledge of his proximity, closer and closer ap- 

 proached the baboon, till at length he reached out 

 his hand and touched one. No movement followed 



