BABOONS. 
129 
shoulders of the males extends backwards over a considerable portion of the body; 
and all the hairs are ringed with different colours, so as to produce that speckled 
appearance common to so many African monkeys. The females and young are 
quite devoid of this mane; the former being nearly as large as the males. The 
snout is very long, and has not the prominent tumour-like swellings characterising 
the short-tailed baboons. The nostrils project somewhat in front of the plane of 
the upper lip, like those of a dog, and are similarly divided by a vertical furrow. 
The eyes are surrounded by a light-coloured ring; and the whiskers are brushed 
back so as to cover the ears. If the gelada baboon be rightly compared to a black 
French poodle, the males of the present species might be still more appropriately 
likened to a grey one, did such a creature exist. 
The Arabian baboon, as its name implies, inhabits Arabia, but it is more 
common on the African continent, in Abyssinia and the Sudan. It is not now 
found in Egypt, but it may have been in ancient times; although, on the other 
hand, it is quite probable that it may have been imported by the ancient Egyptians 
from the Sudan. It is just possible that the animal mentioned in the Scriptures 
under the name of satyr may be this species. 
„ ‘ ^ Among the ancient Egyptians the baboon occupied a prominent 
place 111 the long series of sacred animals, and was consecrated to the 
god Thoth. When sculptured by itself, it is the male that is represented, and it is 
always placed in a seated position, with the hands resting 011 the knees; the mane 
investing the body like a huge cloak. Hermopolis, the city of Thoth, was especially 
devoted to the cult of these animals ; while in Thebes a special necropolis was 
arranged for the preservation of their mummified bodies. I11 spite, however, of its 
sacred character, the ancient Egyptians, if we may trust their sculptures, were not 
averse to making use of the sacred baboon in the ordinary affairs of life. For 
instance, there is a bas-relief extant representing a fruit-bearing sycamore, in the 
branches of which are three monkeys, which from their long snouts, well-developed 
tails, and thickly-haired shoulders and necks, may be at once recognised as Arabian 
baboons. O11 either side of the tree are two slaves, with baskets laden with sycamore- 
figs, others of which they are receiving from the hands of the baboons. It thus 
appears that the ancient Egyptians had succeeded in training these intractable 
animals to gather fruits and hand them to their masters, precisely after the fashion 
that the modern Malays are said to have trained a langur in Sumatra to perform 
a similar kind of service; the fruit in the one case being sycamore-figs, and in the 
other cocoa-nuts. 
In addition to being represented on the monuments of Egypt, it appears highly 
probable that of two large monkeys sculptured on a bas-relief on one of the obelisks 
brought by Sir Henry Layard from Nimroud, the one depicted with a heavy 
mantle of fur on the shoulders is intended for the Arabian baboon. 
Under the general heading of baboons we have already alluded 
Habits. 00 «/ 
to Ludolph’s account of this species in the seventeenth century. 
There are many later descriptions of the habits of this species, but we shall content 
ourselves with some of the more recent of these. Mr. Blanford, in his account of 
the Natural History of Abyssinia, relates his first meeting with these baboons when 
on the march to Magdala in the following words :—“ O11 rising the next morning I 
vol. 1. — 9 
