62 
THE CHACMA. 
nance ; so that a grimace on the part of the gallant owner was immediately reproduced, or 
rather, represented by a grin on the part of the baboon. 
There is a well-known story of a monkey who literally “plucked a crow” which had been 
m the habit of stealing his food, and curiously enough, the scene was re-enacted by this very 
animal, with the exception of one or two slight differences. 
He was chained to the pole because he was rather too mischievous to be left entirely at 
liberty. He had been already detected in eating a box of wafers, studying practically the 
interior construction of a watch, and drinking a bottle of ink— in this last exploit displaying 
similar tastes with the siamang described in this volume. His age was only two years at the 
time when the account of his performances was written. 
Captain Drayson has very kindly furnished me with the following original anecdotes of 
this tame Chacma : 
‘ ‘ A young baboon which had been reared by his owner from infancy resided for some 
months near my tent, and often served to while away an idle hour. 
“ Sometimes a stout earthen pot, which had just been emptied of its contents of good 
English jam, was submitted to the mercy of ‘Jacob,’ as this animal was named. The neck of 
the pot would not admit even a hand to be inserted, and it was most amusing to watch the 
manoeuvres which were practised to procure some of the remnants of the sweets. If a stick 
were near, the jam was scooped out ; but if not, the pot was elevated high above Jacob’s head, 
and then flung to the ground with great force. 
“The earthen pot was stout and strong; but upon one occasion, by good luck, the pot 
struck a stone, and was fractured. Great was the delight of Jacob, but not unmixed with 
suspicion ; for he appeared to think that the bystanders had been merely waiting to take 
advantage of his skill in projectiles, and that they would now purloin his fragments. Cram- 
ming his pouches full of bits of the jam-pot, he then seized the largest remaining piece and 
retreated to the top of his pole to enjoy the licking. 
“He was always fully occupied for some hours after these feats ; for the jam adhered to 
his body, and he had to contort himself to lick off all the particles. 
4 4 There is almost as much expression in the tail of a baboon, as there is in his face. The 
alteration of the curve in which it is usually carried, or the lowering of this appendage, 
having a special meaning, according to the character of the individual. 
“The baboon is perfectly aware of the dangerous character of the snake, and when he 
approaches a clump of bushes for the purpose of feasting upon the young shoots or ripe berries, 
he invariably peeps suspiciously amongst the underwood in search of his dreaded foe. 
4 ‘ In consequence of J acob’ s detestation of the serpent race, a cruel trick was frequently 
played upon him, but which was one that gave great amusement. This was to frighten him 
with a dead snake. 
“Serpents of every description were here very common; and sometimes when one had 
been killed, it was laid across a stick and taken towards Jacob. The instant his persecutor 
came in sight, the snake was sure to be seen; Jacob would then wrap himself up in his 
blanket and turn over an old box, under which he would hide. This retreat soon failed 
him, as there was a small knot-hole in the box, through which the tail of the snake was 
insinuated. 
4 4 Finding that this artifice had failed, he would upset the box, and spring away ; a little 
dodging would then take place, and Jacob would be hemmed in so that the snake was brought 
close to him. Then, indeed, things required a desperate remedy, and with great presence of 
mind, he would seize the tail — invariably the tail — of the snake, and would fling the reptile to 
a distance. He would then at once rush towards his persecutor, and sit down beside him, as 
though to intimate that he wished to be friends. 
4 4 There was only one method from which there was no escape ; this was to tie the snake 
loosely around the upper part of J acob’ s chain, and then hold it so that a little shaking caused 
the reptile to slide towards him. 
“After several jumps and grimaces, he would appear to be convinced that escape was use- 
less., and would then resign himself complacently to his fate, 
