THE PAP I ON. 
67 
which were furnished with a safe home in or near their temples, liberally fed while living, and 
honorably embalmed when dead. Many mummied forms of these baboons have been found in the 
temple caves of Egypt, swathed, and spiced, and adorned, just as if they had been human beings. 
Some authors say that the Thoth Baboon was an object of worship among the Egyptians, 
but hardly with sufficient reason. Various animal forms were used as visible living emblems 
of the attributes of deity, and the qualities of the human intellect, but were no more objects 
of idolatrous worship than the lion of England, or the eagle of America. 
The fur of the Papion is of a chestnut color ; in some parts fading into a sober fawn, and 
in others warmed with a wash of ruddy bay. The paws are darker than the rest of the body. 
When young, it is of a lighter hue, and deepens in color until it reaches its full age. In the 
prime of existence its colors are the lightest, but as years begin to lay their burden on the 
animal, the hairs begin to be flecked with a slight grizzle, and, in process of time, the snows 
of age descend liberally, and whiten the whole fur with hoary hairs. 
The sense of smell is very largely developed in the baboons, their wide and roomy snouts 
giving plenty of space for the olfactory nerve to spread its branches. Aided by this forma- 
tion, they are enabled to distinguish between poisonous and wholesome food — much to the 
advantage of their human neighbors, who profit by their intelligence, knowing that they may 
safely eat any vegetable which a baboon will admit into its list of viands. What is good for 
baboon is good for man, say they. 
As to the animal food in which these animals indulge, it might possibly be made use of 
under the pressure of imminent starvation, but hardly under any circumstances less distressing. 
It must require a very hungry man to eat a scorpion or a centipede, although ants and some 
other insects are said to possess quite a delicate and almond-like flavor. 
As has already been mentioned, they are singular adepts at discovering the presence of 
water, even though the priceless element should lie concealed under sand or stony ground. 
In such a case of subterraneous springs, the baboons set regularly to work, and, using their 
hands in lieu of spades and mattocks, dig with wonderful celerity. While thus working, they 
divide the task among themselves, and relieve each other at regular intervals. 
When the baboons move in parties, they employ an almost military mode of arranging 
their numbers. In the advanced guard are the young males, who keep forward, well in front 
of the main body, and run from side to side, for the purpose of reconnoitering the ground over 
which they will have to pass. The females and their young occupy the centre, while the rear 
is brought up by the old and experienced males. 
Thus, the more active and vigilant animals lead the way, the weakest are kept under pro- 
tection, and the powerful elders have the whole of their charge constantly in view. In order 
to insure the utmost precision in the line of march, several trusty animals are selected as 
“whippers in,” whose business it is to keep order, to drive stragglers back to their proper 
position, to moderate the exuberant playfulness of the advanced guard, to keep a watchful 
eye upon the weaker members of the community, and to maintain a correspondence with the 
venerable chiefs in the rear. 
The number of individuals composing a troup is sometimes above one hundred, ten or 
twelve being adult males, twenty or so, adult females, and the rest of the band composed of 
the young of both sexes. 
The specimens of baboons that have been captured and domesticated, are generally taken 
by a crafty stratagem. Jars of well-sweetened beer are placed near their haunts, and drugged 
with some of those somniferous herbs which are so well known to the Orientals. 
The baboons, seeing the jars left apparently unwatched, come cautiously from their homes, 
and assemble round the novel articles with much grin and chatter. They first dip in a cautious 
finger, and taste suspiciously. Misgiving gives place to confidence, and they partake freely 
of the sweet treachery. The soporific liquid soon manifests its power, and the baboons fall 
easy victims to their captors. 
The two animals with which this history of baboons is closed, are removed from the pre- 
ceding species, on account of various points in their conformation, and are placed in a separate 
genus, under the name of Papio. 
