New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-19
JlCKO: a BABOONS BIOGRAPHY.

Lieutenant Colonel To,,-el IN KnO,rledge"
Many wears ago, when stationed at an outpost on
the Great ssh River, III the eastern frontier OF South
Africa, | presented by the officer relieved
with young baboOn, which, when captured, was
so young that it had to be brought up 10y hand.
From the first. took great deal OF notice OF It,
and it became very much attached to me. II made
great progress and grew up healthy, strong animal
JackOs pole always erected close 10 my
quarters. and | could watch his proceedings from
my window unknown 10 HIM, and they were al
WAYS most amusing. 1t was The custom in barracks
for the pioneers to go round and sweep up the
Darrack square. One morning saw man. with
vince barrow 1ull OF straw and other rubbish,
sweepings of the square. put down his barrow near
JackOS pole while he was sweeping IN the lmlae-
diale neighbOrhOOd JACKIE was seated upon his
high perch apparently taking no notice OF what
was going on. Presently saw the pioneer dlsap-
pear to sweep round a corner. Jacko was down
like lightning, capsized the barrow, and with his
long and powerful arms scattered the contents in
every direction, and wnen the pioneer appeared,
up on his perch again with wonderful celetltyl
looking in quite different direction with lace OF
the most ludcrous innocence
one morning. from my lookout window, seeing
Jacko come down from his perch very demuTely to
the ground, and slacken his cham. and then he
down, as If innOcently baskiug in the sun. ieit
fully aware that mischief was brewing. Presently
! saw fat lutte puppy appear on the scene ana
Master Jackos sleepy.lookng eye fixed upon IT
most intently When the puppy had strayed
within reach JackO's chain was quietly ughtened,
and with his hind leg he seized 1t ana immediately
clasping il i'll his arms, he clabercd with II to the
top of bis high perch. For short time the puppy
was nursed and handled III bis arms Just as
woman would nurse baby; then he began care
full search for leas with which the poor little thing
was tornented. All at once bright idea seemed TO
strike him for, graspiDg the puppy by the tail and
holding If out at arms length and looking. with
expression of most innocent Occurrences in the OPP
pOsIte direction, he quietly opened his hand and
down fell the poor little animal with /" thud to
the ground | ran out to succor the poor little
brute and scoded JackO vigorously for his cruelty,
which, however, perfectly useless Tor he IN
stautly assumed a preoccuped AR, ana was appa-
rently intensely interested III some imaginary OD-
the distance.
1t was perfectly useless to provide him with any
Mace of refuge or shelter as his energies were at
once at work to destroy ii, in which he succeeded
uncommCnly well so at night sack sus-
pended from the top OF his pole, INTO which he
nestled himself with great comfort; and II is "a
singular fact that at night could 90 up to his pole
and touch his sack, aud lie never attempted to
move. but would give me an aticctlonatr grunt OF
glad welcome, but II any other lndlylduai APP
preached within yard of his pole. JackO was out
of his nest in an instant, screaming and preparing
On a cold, wet rainy night used often to take
him bowl full of hot coffee ana knowing there
was sugar at the bottom of the bowl, he cOuld not
resist the temptation of punging his hand into II to
search for the sugar, although the coffee was 50
hot that he was obliged to cry ont with the pain.
Had l not witnessed what am about to relate,
could not have believed II. | have stood within
thirty yards of his pole with my bow and arrow,
and taking deliberate AIM have launched an arrow
at him. JackO would invariably catch the arrow
i'm his hand holding it until went and claimed it,
when he always gave it up readily. But 1t Is most
remarkable that if any other person took the bow
and fired at him. JaGkO, on catching the arrow,
always broke il in pieces. / need not say that on
these occasions invariably gave my worst arrows
to my friends.
him. thoroughly investigating the nature of tho
article lie had caught He very partial TO eggs.
whether boiled or raw, and 1t was most amusing to
him tossing n hot egg from hand to hand,
screaming the while, but never letting 10 90.
lie was FOND OF his grog weak wine and water,
which was given TO HIM occasionally III bottlo,
tightly colked, and 1T was one of the pet amuse-
ments to him pick out the cork. bit by bit, with
his very strong nail but to show how perfectly
well he understood the of the cork when he
had picked away much ms lie could reach with
his fingers, and still found himself unable to get at
the contents, he would take up the bottle and crack
the neck of against his pole.
To give one instance of Jackos deep cunning my
company was on the line of march to an outpost.
My wife and were riding few hundred yards in
rear CT the men, JackO, As usual, loose and follow
ing us like dog. We observed n fingOe sitting on
an ant heap, about thirty yards from the roadside
with his wife standing within few feet of him,
holding in her hand "A line cob of Indian corn. All
at once we saw JackO walk up to the Fingoe and
make friends with him Ia most unusual thing, lie
never took to the natlyes and even sitting on the
Fingoe's knee. Then we saw HIM make a spring,
and IN the jump seize the Indian corn and running
for his life he caught hold of my strrup and was
on the pOmmel of my saddle like lightning The
Fingoe much enraged, and threw his knob
kere at him. so ! paclfied the man, much TO his
delight. by giving him a bit OF tobacco.
/ have already said that the soldiers were very
fond of Jacko, and in the evening especially they
would surround his pole, playing with hum; but If
lie suddenly cHugn hlgnt OF me coming inJO lne DuI-
rack square, he would Immediately go round the
circle biting every one of the men, dash up on his
perch and scream frantically, If trying to per-
suade me that he was the injured party appealing
TO my protection.
Although brought up by hand. his intultve per
ception OF danger and recognition of his enemies |
were remarkable. If wished TO keep him up on
his pole. bad only to coil dead snake at the |
bottom Of il, and no dainty would induce him to
come down and when vas absent from my post |
aud the alarm cry of JACKIE is loose" sounded. my
had only TO put leopards skim with tie head
stuffed in the doorway, and the quarters were per