MOXKEYS UTILIZED. 165 



some cases turned, and the cliacmas made to provide food for 

 the Kaffirs instead of deriving it from them. 



Tiie ordinary food of the chacma is a plant called babiana, 

 from the use which the baboons make of it. It is a subter- 

 ranean root, which has the property of being always full of 

 watery juice in the driest weather, so that it is of incalculable 

 value to travelers who have not a large supply of water with 

 them, or who find that the regular fountains are dried up. 

 Many Kaffirs have tame chacmas which they have captured 

 when very young, and which have scarcely seen any of their 

 own kind. These animals are v^ry useful to the Kaffirs, for if 

 they come upon a plant or a fruit which they do not know they 

 offer it to the baboon, and if he eats it they know that it is 

 suitable for human consumption. 



On their jom'neys the same animal is very useful in discover- 

 ing water, or, at all events, the babiana roots, which supply a 

 modicum of moisture to the system, and serve to support life 

 until water is reached. Under these circumstances, the baboon 

 takes the lead of the party, being attached to a long rope, and 

 allowed to run about as he likes. When he comes to a root t)f 

 babiana he is held back until the precious vegetable can be taken 

 entire out of the ground, but, in order to stimulate the animal 

 to farther exertions, he is allowed to eat a root now and then. 



The search for water is conducted in a similar manner. The 

 wretched baboon is intentionally kept without drink until he is 

 half mad with thirst, and he is then led by a cord as before men- 

 tioned. He proceeds with great caution, standing occasionally 

 on his hind legs to sniff the breeze, and looking at and smelling 

 every tuft of grass. By what signs the animal is guided no one 

 can even conjecture ; but if water is in the neighborhood the 

 baboon is sure to find it. So, although this animal is an invet- 

 erate foe of the field and garden, he is not without his uses to 

 man when his energies are rightly directed. 



