138 THE BABOON AND THE CROW. 



and frightening the Kaffir women. Did he, with his eagle 

 glance, discover one of these, he would rush at her, with 

 fierce expression and threatening barks. Away she would 

 run, dropping her basket or hoe. He would soon catch 

 her, and, holding on to a leg, would move his eyebrows 

 about, and stare at her, as though he were the veriest 

 vampire on earth. Sometimes this scene would be viewed 

 from the kraal near, and a mangy, spectre-looking Kaffir 

 cur would be hied on to the rescue. Now the tables were 

 turned, and Jacko would have to scuttle away for his life 

 to some tree, amongst the branches of which he would 

 spring with wonderful agility, until with a rapid twinkle of 

 the eye he discovered that he was high enough to be safe 

 from the gnashing teeth of the infuriated dog below. 

 Instantly becoming calm, he gazed upwards and around, 

 with a quiet and contemplative air, as though he had 

 sought this elevated position for the sole purpose of medi- 

 tating on the weakness of baboon and animal nature 

 generally, but more particularly on the foibles of excited 

 Kaffir curs. 



I was much amused in watching this creature's revenge 

 on a crow that had frequently robbed him of tit-bits which 

 by accident had gone beyond the reach of his chain. lie 

 watched this bird flying round him, settling, and walking 

 nearer, and again flying; so he left his meal, and laid 

 himself down, as though the wished-for food was entirely 

 beneath his notice. The crow settled near, and carefully 

 watched the proceedings. First he inspected the chopped 

 potatoes and meat, and then the sleepy baboon. Again 

 the tempting morsels attracted his hungry appetite, and 



