4,32 



HISTORY OF 



Upon a tree, while the rest are plundering, carefully and cauti- 

 ously turning on every side, but particularly to that on which 

 there is the greatest danger : in the meantime, the rest of the 

 spoilers pursue their work with great silence and assiduity ; they 

 are not contented with the first blade of corn, or the first cane 

 that they happen to lay their hands on ; they first pull up such 

 as appear most alluring to the eye ; they turn it round, examine, 

 compare it with others, and if they find it to their mind, stick it 

 under one of their shoulders. When in this manner they have 

 got their load, they begin to think of retreating : but if it should 

 happen that the owners of the field appear to interrupt their de- 

 predations, their faithful sentinel instantly gives notice, by cry- 

 ing out Houp, houp, koup ! which the rest perfectly understand, 

 and all at once throwi.-ig down the corn they hold in their left 

 hands, scamper ofl^ upon three legs, carrying the remainder in 

 the right. If they are still hotly pursued, they then are con- 

 tent to throw down their whole burden, and to take refuge 

 among their woods, on the tops of which they remain in perfect 

 security. 



Were we to give faith to what some travellers assure us, of 

 the government, policies, and subordination of these animals, we 

 might perhaps be taxed with credulity ; but we have no reason to 

 doubt that they are under a kind of discipline, which they exer- 

 cise among each other. They are generally seen to keep together 

 in companies, to march in exact order, and to obey the voice of 

 some particular chieftain remarkable for his size and gravity. One 

 species of these which Mr BufTon calls the ouarine, and which 

 are remarkable for the loud:;ess and distinctness of their voice, are 

 still more so for the use to which they convert it. " I have fre- 

 quently been a witness," says Margrave " of their assemblies and 

 deliberations. Every day, both morning and evening, the oua- 

 rines assemble in the woods to receive instructions. When all 

 come together, one among the number takes the highest place 

 on a tree, and makes a signal with his hand to the rest to sit 

 round, in order to hearken. As soon as he sees them placed, 

 he begins his discourse with so loud a voice, and yet in a man. 

 ner so precipitate, that, to hear him at a distance, one would 

 think the whole company were crying out at the same time : 

 however, during that time, one only is speaking; and all the 

 rest observe the most profound silence. When this has done, 



