BABOONS. 
J3 1 
Sir Samuel We conc lude our notice of the species with two accounts given 
Baker’sobserva- by Sir Samuel Baker, when in the Sudan. “Troops of baboons,” 
tlons ’ observes Sir Samuel, “ are now exceedingly numerous, as, the 
country being entirely dried up, they are forced to the river for water, and 
the shady banks covered with berry - bearing shrubs induce them to remain. 
It is very amusing to watch these great male baboons stalking majestically 
along, followed by a large herd of all ages, the mothers carrying the little ones 
upon their backs, the latter with a regular jockey-seat riding most comfortably, 
while at other times they relieve the monotony of the position by sprawling at 
full length and holding on by their mothers’ back hair. Suddenly a sharp-eyed 
young ape discovers a bush well covered with berries, and, his greedy munching 
being quickly observed, a general rush of youngsters takes place, and much 
squabbling for the best place ensues among the boys; this ends in great uproar, 
when down comes a great male, who cuffs one, pulls another by the hair, bites 
another on the hind-quarters j ust as he thinks he has escaped, drags back a would-be 
deserter by his tail and shakes him thoroughly; and thus he shortly restores order, 
preventing all further disputes by sitting under the bush and quietly enjoying the 
berries by himself. These baboons have a great variety of expressions, that may 
perhaps represent their vocabulary. A few of these I begin to understand, such as 
the notes of alarm and the cry to direct attention ; thus, when I am sitting alone 
beneath the shade of a tree to watch their habits, they are at first not quite certain 
what kind of a creature I may be, and they utter a peculiar cry to induce me to 
move and show myself more distinctly.” 
On another occasion when a troop of about a hundred of these baboons were 
observed gathering gum from the mimosa trees, Sir Samuel Baker was asked by 
the natives whether Lady Baker would like to have a girrit, as these creatures are 
called by the Arabs of the Sudan. “ Being answered in the affirmative, away dashed 
the three hunters in full gallop after the astonished apes, who, finding themselves 
pursued, went off at their best speed. The ground was rough, being full of broken 
hollows covered scantily with mimosas, and the stupid baboons, instead of turning 
to the right into the rugged and steep valley of Settite, where they would have 
been secure from the agageers [swordsmen], kept a straight course before the 
horses. It was a curious hunt. Some of the very young baboons were riding on 
their mothers’ backs; these were now going at their best pace, holding on to their 
maternal steeds, and looking absurdly human; but in a few minutes, as we closely 
followed the Arabs, we were all in the midst of the herd, and with great dexterity 
two of the agageers, while at full speed, swooped like falcons from their saddles, 
and seized each a half-grown ape by the back of the neck, and hoisted them upon 
the necks of the horses. Instead of biting, as I had expected, the astonished captives 
sat astride of the horses, and clung tenaciously to the necks of their steeds, screaming 
with fear. The hunt was over, and we halted to secure the prisoners. Dismounting, 
to my surprise the Arabs immediately stripped from a mimosa several thongs of 
bark, and having tied the baboons by the neck, they gave them a merciless whipping 
with their powerful coorbatches of hippopotamus hide.” This cruel treatment, 
which was eventually stopped by Sir Samuel Baker, was intended to make the 
unfortunate baboons docile, and prevent their biting. 
