THE CAPE BABOON OR BAVIAN 



Did I shoot him ? No ! a thousand times no ! 

 I stoned off the dogs and left him in peace. In my 

 rambles over mountain, veld, and in forest, I have 

 met with more examples of the truest heroism and 

 absolute self-sacrifice amongst the lower animals 

 than I have with the higher animal known as Man. 



A Dutch farmer near Graaff Reinet possessed a 

 large and powerful dog of the boarhound breed, 

 which was a veteran at baboon-hunting. When a 

 female or immature baboon was overtaken he simply 

 dashed headlong at it, and usually succeeded in 

 killing it without much injury to himself. He never, 

 however,came at once to close quarters with a baboon 

 leader. He baited it for some time, when, getting 

 it at a disadvantage, he would close with it. If the 

 baboon was an exceptionally large one, he would keep 

 it at bay till the arrival of his master. Should the 

 baboon turn and retreat, it was instantly bitten in 

 the loins or back legs. Sometimes he would make 

 an oblique dash at the retreating baboon, gashing 

 its side with a side stroke of his fangs, usually in the 

 abdominal region. This old canine baboon-slayer 

 was covered with scars of former battles. One of 

 these scars was a foot and a half long. A baboon 

 had managed to get a grip of him, and ripped a great 

 patch of skin from his shoulder. Fortunately the 

 skin was not entirely detached, and after treat- 

 ment with antiseptics it was stitched in place and 

 soon healed up. 



Attempts have been made to destroy baboons 



53 



