146 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
tractable and incorrigible whilst under the management of men, it usually happens that Baboons are 
most effectually tamed and led to even more than ordinary obedience in the hands of women, whose 
attentions they often repay with gratitude and affection.” 
There is another side to the picture, however, and probably about as true. “ Travellers sometimes 
speak of the danger which women run who reside in the vicinity of the situation which these animals 
inhabit, and affirm that the negresses on the coast of Guinea are occasionally kidnapped by the 
Baboons ; we are even assured that certain of those women have lived among the Baboons for many 
years, and that they were prevented from escaping by being shut up in caves in the mountains, 
where, however, they were plentifully fed, and in other respects treated with great kindness ! It is 
to be observed, however,” writes this author, u that these accounts rest upon authority which is by no 
means unexceptionable ; credible and well-informed modern travellers do not relate them, and even 
their older and more credulous predecessors give them only from hearsay.” 
There is a curious connection between the growth of the hair on some parts of Monkeys 
and their combative habits. Thus these Baboons have a long mane, and that of the male is, 
of course, the longest ; and these are perhaps the only Apes which seize each other by the nape 
of the neck with their long canine teeth, the males being the fighters. The mane, then, is clearly 
of advantage. On one occasion this propensity displayed itself on one of the higher animals who 
was not thus protected, in an attack by a Baboon on one of the keepers at the Zoological Gardens, 
the keeper unfortunately having no clothes on the back of his neck to act as a mane. The 
man was stooping down, when the Baboon suddenly pounced on him, and bit him most severely 
and dangerously in this exposed spot. During this savage and unexpected attack, the affectionate 
impulses of a little Monkey were of great use and service, for, seeing its keeper in danger, it bit the 
brute, and screamed in such a manner as to distract its attention, and to allow the man to escape. 
All the Chacmas, however, are not furiously jealous, or fighters, or kidnappers of women, for 
many have excellent memories of kindnesses, and do not fail to express their gratitude. Thus Sir 
Andrew Smith was recognised by a Baboon at the Cape of Good Hope, with much evidence of 
satisfaction, after he had been absent for nine months. The females are also often very tender and 
affectionate. One of them, an old female, adopted a little Rhesus Monkey, and took all sorts of care 
of it ; but when a young Drill and Mandrill were placed in the cage she seemed to perceive that those 
Monkeys, though distinct species, were her nearer relations, for she at once rejected the Rhesus, and 
adopted both of them. The young Rhesus was greatly discontented at being thus rejected, and it 
would, like a naughty child, annoy and attack the young Drill and Mandrill wherever it could do so 
safely ; this conduct exciting great indignation in the old Baboon. Another female Baboon had so 
capacious a heart that she not only adopted young Monkeys of other species, but stole young Dogs 
and Cats, which she continually carried about. Her kindness, however, did not go so far as to share 
her food with her adopted offspring. An adopted kitten scratched this affectionate and selfish old 
thing, who certainly had a line intellect, for she was much astonished at being scratched, and imme- 
diately examined the kitten’s feet, and without more ado bit off the claws ! 
Le Vail lant in his African travels was accompanied by a Monkey, which was probably one of these 
Chacmas. It lived on very good terms with cocks and hens, thus disproving the antipathy which tradi- 
tion has handed down as existing between these very different creatures. He was amused at the one, 
and stole the eggs of the other. In fact, he not only tasted the eggs of his own accord, but was made 
to taste all sorts of fowls and nuts for the benefit of the travellers, who feared being poisoned. If this 
creature, which was called “Kees,” refused them, they were left untouched by those who had a very 
sensible opinion of his instinct. Besides being. taster he was watch-dog. “ By his cries,” writes the 
traveller, “ and other expressions of fear, we were always informed of the approach of an enemy before 
my Dogs could discover it. They were so accustomed to his voice, that they slept in perfect security, 
and never went the rounds, on which account 1 was very angry, fearing that I should no longer find 
that indispensable assistance which I had a right to expect if any disorder or fatal accident should 
deprive me of my faithful guardians. However, when he had once given the alarm, they all stopped 
to watch the signal, and on the least motion of his eyes, or the shaking of his head, I have seen them 
all rush forward, and run far away in the quarter to which they observed his looks directed. I often 
carried him along with me in my hunting excursions, during which he would amuse himself climbing 
