THE CHACMA. 67 



completed, I had discovered my mistake ; the little old man turned into an ursine 

 baboon with an infant ditto, who had come down the kloof to drink. The * old man's ' 

 cough was answered by a dozen others, at present hidden in the fogs ; soon, however, 



" ' Up rose the sun, the mists were curl'd 

 Back from the solitary world 

 Which lay around,' ' 



and I obtained a view of the range of mountains gilded by the morning sun. 



THE CHACMA. Cyaocephalus Porcarius. 



" A large party of the old gentleman's family were sitting up the ravine, and were evi- 

 dently holding a debate as to the cause of my intrusion. I watched them through my 

 glass, and was much amused at their grotesque and almost human movements. Some 

 of the old ladies had their olive branches in their laps, and appeared to be ' doing their 

 hair,' while a patriarchal old fellow paced backwards and forwards with a fussy sort 

 of look ; he was evidently on sentry, and seemed to think himself of no small impor- 

 tance. 



" This estimate of his dignity did not appear to be universally acknowledged ; as two or 

 three young baboons sat close behind him watching his proceedings ; sometimes with 

 the most grotesque movements and expressions they would stand directly in his path, 

 and hobble away only at the last moment. One daring youngster followed close on the 

 heels of the patriarch during the whole length of his beat, and give a sharp tug at his tail 

 as he was about to turn. The old fellow seemed to treat it with the greatest indifference, 

 scarcely turning round at the insult. Master Impudence was about repeating the perform- 

 ance, when the pater, showing that he was not such a fool as he looked, suddenly sprang 

 round, and catching the young one before he could escape, gave him two or three such 

 cuffs that I could hear the screams that resulted therefrom. The venerable gentleman 



