THE CHACMA. 65 



Many a time have these reckless animals paid for their audacity by their life. The 

 whole affair is the work of only a few seconds. The baboon is scampering away in hot 

 haste, and the hound following at full speed. Suddenly the fugitive casts a quick 

 glance behind him, and seeing that he has only one antagonist close upon him, wheels 

 round, springs on the dog before it can check itself, and in an instant flings the dying 

 hound on the earth, the blood pouring in torrents from its mangled throat. 



OF THE Dog-headed baboons, the species which is most celebrated for such feats of 

 prowess is the well-known animal called the CHACMA, or URSINE BABOON, the latter 

 title being given to it on account of the slightly bear-like aspect of the head and neck. 

 The word Chacma is a corrupted, or rather a contracted, form of the Hottentot name 

 T'chakamma. The Zulu name for this baboon is Imfena, a much more euphonious 

 word, without that odious click, so impossible of achievement by ordinary vocal organs. 

 In the same dialect, one which is in almost every case remarkable for the rich softness 

 of its intonation, the word " Inkau," is the synonym for a monkey. 



This animal, when it has attained its full age, equals in size a large mastiff, or an 

 ordinary sized wolf ; while, in bodily strength and prowess, it is a match for any two 

 dogs that can be brought to attack it. 



Curiously enough, although it is so ruthless an antagonist, being the certain slayer 

 of any hound that may come to close quarters, there is no animal which is so eagerly 

 hunted by the South African hounds. Experience seems in this case to have lost its 

 proverbially instructive powers ; and the cruel death of many comrades by the trenchant 

 fangs of the Chacma has no effect in deterring the ardent hound from attacking the 

 first baboon that comes in its way. 



The owners of the hounds are more careful in this matter than are the dogs them- 

 selves, and evince more caution in setting their dogs on the track of a baboon than on 

 the " spoor " of a leopard, or even of the regal lion himself. 



The Chacma is a most accomplished robber, executing his burglaries openly when- 

 ever he knows that he will meet with no formidable opposition, and having recourse to 

 silent craft when there are dogs to watch for trespassers, and men with guns to shoot 

 them. 



With such consummate art do these animals plan, and with such admirable skill do 

 they carry out their raids, that even the watchful band of dogs is comparatively useless ; 

 and the cunning robbers actually slip past the vigilant sentries without the stirring of 

 a grass blade, or the rustling of a dried twig, to give notice to the open ears of the wake- 

 ful but beguiled sentries. 



In such a case, the mode to which they resort is clever in the extreme. 



They know full well, that if a number of their body were to enter the forbidden 

 domain, they could hardly elude the observation or escape the hearing of dogs and 

 men ; so they commit the delicate task of entering the enemy's domains to one or two 

 old experienced baboons. These take the lead, and gliding softly past the sentry dogs, 

 find admission by some crevice, or by the simpler mode of climbing over the fence. 



Meanwhile, the rest of the band array themselves in a long line, leading from the 

 scene of operations to some spot where they will be out of danger from pursuit. 



All being ready, the venturous leaders begin to pluck the fruit, or to bite off the stalks, 

 as the case may be, and quietly hand the booty to the comrade who is nearest to them. 

 He passes the fruit to a third, who again hands it to a fourth ; and thus the spoil is 

 silently conveyed to a distance, in a manner similar to that which is employed in hand- 

 ing water-buckets to a fire-engine. When a sufficient amount of plunder has been se- 

 cured, the invading party quietly make their retreat, and revel in security on their ill- 

 gotten goods. 



Although on service for the general weal, each individual baboon is not unmindful 

 of his personal interest ; and while he hands the booty to his next neighbor, deftly slips 

 a portion into his pouches, much on the same principle that an accomplished epicure, 

 while busily carving for the assembled guests, never loses sight of his own particular 

 predilection, and when he has exhausted the contents of the dish, quietly assumes the 

 portion which he had laid aside. 



When young, the Chacma is docile enough, and by its curious tricks affords much 

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