THE BABOON. 23 



victuals out of it, especially milk, of which he was very fond. 

 My people chastised him for these thefts; but that did not 

 make him amend his conduct. I myself sometimes whipped 

 him ; but then he ran away, and did not return again to the 

 tent until it grew dark. Once, as I was about to dine, and 

 had put the beans, which I had boiled for myself, upon a 

 plate, I heard the voice of a bird with which I was not 

 acquainted. I left my dinner standing, seized my gun, and 

 ran out of the tent. After the space of about a quarter of 

 an hour I returned, with the bird in my hand, but, to my 

 astonishment, found not a single bean upon the plate. Kees 

 had stolen them all, and taken himself out of the way. 

 When he had committed any trespass of this kind, he used 

 always, about the time when I drank tea, to return quietly, 

 and seat himself in his usual place, with every appearance 

 of innocence, as if nothing had happened ; but this evening 

 he did not let himself be seen. And, on the following day, 

 also, he was not seen by any of us; and, in consequence, 

 I began to grow seriously uneasy about him, and apprehen- 

 sive that he might be lost for ever. But, on the third day, 

 one of my people, who had been to fetch water, informed 

 me that he had seen Kees in the neighbourhood, but that, 

 as soon as the animal espied him, he had concealed himself 

 again. I immediately went out and beat the whole neigh- 

 bourhood with my dogs. All at once, I heard a cry, like 

 that which Kees used to make, when I returned from my 

 shooting, and had not taken him with me. I looked about, 

 and at length espied him, endeavouring to hide himself 

 behind the large branches of a tree. I now called to him 

 in a friendly tone of voice, and made motions to him to come 

 down to me. But he could not trtist me, and I was obliged 

 to climb up the tree to fetch him. He did not attempt to fly, 

 and we returned together to my quarters; here he expected 

 to receive his punishment; but I did nothing, as it would 

 have been of no use. 



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