THEIR HABITS. 
139 
posts as scouts on the flanks or rear, and all fulfil their duties with the utmost vigilance, calling out 
at times, apparently to keep order among the motley pack, which forms the main body, or to give 
notice of the approach of any real or imagined danger. Their tones of voice on these occasions are so 
distinctly raised, that a person much accustomed to watch their movements will at length fancy — and 
perhaps with some truth - -that lie can understand their signals.' 
“The main body is composed of females, inexperienced males, and the young of the tribe. Those 
of the females who have small children carry them on their back. Unlike the dignified march of the 
leaders, the rabble go along in a most disorderly manner, trotting on and chattering without taking 
the least heed of anything, apparently confiding in the vigilance of their scouts. Here a few of the 
youth linger behind to pick the berries off some tree, but not for long, for the rear guard coming up 
forces them to regain their places. Then a matron pauses for a moment to suckle her offspring, and 
not to lose time dresses its hair whilst it is taking its meal. Another younger lady, probably excited 
by jealousy, or by some sneering look or word, pulls an ugly mouth at her neighbour, and then, uttering 
a shrill squeal highly expressive of rage, vindictively snatches at her rival’s leg or tail with her hand, 
and gives her, perhaps, a sharp bite in the hi ml -quarters. This provokes a retort, and a most unladylike 
quarrel ensues, till a loud bark of command from one of the chiefs calls them to order. A single cry 
of alarm makes them all halt and remain on the qui vive till another bark in a different tone reassures 
them, and they then proceed on their march. 
“Arrived at the cornfields, the scouts take their position on the eminences all around, while the 
remainder of the tribe collect provision, with the utmost expedition, filling their cheek-pouches as full 
as they can hold, and then tucking the seeds of corn under their armpits. Now, unless there be a 
partition of the collected spoil, how do the scouts feed ? for I have watched them several times, and 
never observed them qilii for a moment their post of duty till it was time for the tribe to return, or 
till some indication of danger induced them to take to flight. They show also the same sagacity in 
searching for water, discovering at once the places where it is most readily found in the sand, and 
then digging for it with tlieir hands just as men would, relieving one another in the work, if the 
quantity of sand to be removed be considerable. Their dwellings are usually chosen in clefts of 
rocks, and are always placed so high that they are inaccessible to most other animals, and sufficiently 
sheltered from the. rain. The Leopard is their worst enemy, for being nearly as good a climber as 
they, he sometimes attacks them, and then there is a tremendous uproar, I remember one night, 
when outlying on the frontier, being disturbed in my sleep by the most awful noises I ever heard, at 
least they appeared as such, exaggerated by my dreams. I started up thinking it was an attack ot 
negroes, but soon recognised the voices of my Baboon friends from the mountain above. On my return 
home I related the fact to the natives, who told me that a Leopard was probably the cause of all this 
panic. I am not aware how he succeeds amongst them. The people say that lie sometimes manages 
to steal a young one and make off, but that he seldom ventures to attack a full-grown Ape. Ho 
would doubtless find such an one an awkward customer; for the Ape’s great strength and activity, and 
the powerful canine teeth with which he is furnished, would render him a formidable enemy, were 
he, from desperation, forced to stand and defend his life. It is most fortunate that their courage is 
only sufficiently great to induce them to act on the defensive. This indeed they only do against a man 
when driven to it by fear, otherwise they generally prefer prudence to valour. Had their combativeness 
been proportioned to their physical powers, coining as they do in hordes of two or three hundred, it, 
would have been impossible for the natives to go out of the village, except in parties, armed, and 
instead of little boys, regiments of armed men would be required to guard the cornfields.” 
A traveller, relating his experience with these Baboons, writes as follows :• — 
“ The first band I saw was just resting after their morning ramble. I had seen the tall forms of 
the males from some distance, but had taken them for rocks, as these Apes resemble them when they 
are still. I was first undeceived by a repeated cry, which sounded like a shrill cry of ‘ Ivuck.’ All 
heads were turned our way, and only the young ones went on with their games. Probably the whole 
herd would have stopped in this attitude had not we had two Dogs with us that we kept to keep off 
hyenas from the house. These answered the cries of the Apes, and we immediately noticed a com- 
motion among the herd. They started off and disappeared. Much to our astonishment, at the next 
bend of the rjad, we saw the whole band in a long row clinging on to what seemed a perpendicular 
