Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-09-05
Of the month we got two others. both
fnll-grown, and all were sent of from
the coast in good condition. N. Y.
San. s.s5
STORIES OF BABooNs.

LAOs &0OesoS IL SOOu COuulUlOu. W.. Il
San.
s5r 5
STORIES OF BABOONS.
A Pet with Some Undesirable Tricks, But
Easily Controlled.
''When on the voyage to my post of
duty in the United States steamer
Monacacy," said the Colonel, tive
called at the Cape of Good Hope. I
made pedestrian trip down the coast,
covering thirty to forty miles. While
travelling along and making Observa-
lions which would in any way aid me
in the study of natural history, came
across Scotch missionary named
Captain Miller, who was the only
white man for many miles, his neigh
bors being all Hottentots. He showed
me about the place, and when he came:
to his garden said that it was unfortu-
nate that all the vegetables and fruit
had been carried off by the balloons.
he made up his mind at one time to put
q stop to their depredations, and so
he erected a matched hut overlook
ing the garden and placed man in
it with loaded rife. The balloons,
however, were very cute. They
would watch until the man went to din
ner, and then they would post senti-
nels while others of their number
would seize as MANY ripe vegetables as
they could carry and make off with
them to their mountain retreats. One
day the balloons, having become care
less by success, were filling their cheek
pouches with pumpkins, when the man
crept back to his lodge, and, firing,
wounded one which stood about four
feet high. Captain Miller told me that
the scene which followed the shooting
was SO painful to him that he made up
his mind that he would never let an
other one of the animals be killed if
they ate up all his vegetables. He said
that the death agonies Of the creature
were exactly like human being. He
looked up pitifully into my face said
Captain Miller, while his cries for help
were so pitiful that felt as if I had been
a party to the commission of murder
A short distance from the house was a
high bluff, and at the request of the
missionary I walked out there to wit
ness what he termed wonderful sight,
which truly it was. At a distance
we could see company of balloons at
play. BY looking through our glasses
every movement was distinctly dis
cernible. The little ones were sliding
down chute like those made by pass
ing logs down mountain side. They
would slide down on their posteriors,
while the older animals, probably
their parents, would stand with big
sticks in their hands, apparently en-
joying the sport hugely. I saw in
this same country a monster baboon
belonging to a soldier in an English
regiment. He had been taught many
tricks by the soldier, one of which
was to draw the cork from a wine
bottle and drink the contents. They
provided uniform for him, in which
he was usually arrayed. He lived too
high, however, became very much
bloated, and died of an affection of the
liver. While was stationed at Port
Louis, French officer gave me bah
Don, which was considered quite a
pet. He was silver-gray in color and
very glossy. I never could ascer-
tain the exact species to which
he belonged, and he was GER
tainly a great curiosity. He was quite
young when captured, but grew to be
about four feet high and very stout.
As he became older he became dan
gerous fellow to have round; for in
stance, he would go up into the bread
trees and pelt people whom he didn't
! know with the bread fruit. He would
| also take up large stones and hurl
them with great force and accuracy.
could always control him by merely
shaking my finger at him and calling
his name, which was Jean Louis, but
for safety's sake l placed an iron band
around his waist and tied him up when
I was not on hand to watch him. He
| would feel in my pockets for fruit when
I came home, and when he found any
| the least bit bruised or dirty he woul d
reject it. He was a great imitator.
Sitting by my side while writing, he
would take up the pen when I had
gone, dip it in the ink, and scratch
the paper, making sorry mess of
whatever came in his way. He.
too, would draw a cork and drink
the contents of the bottle, be it wine
or brandy, but he was espe-
! cially fond of the latter. He saw me
bore a hole with a gimlet and imme-
| diately initiated me, and the same with
driving a nail. I had suit of clothes
made for him, intending to bring him
to America with me had not a sad fate
overtaken him. One day he took a
stone and hammered the links of his
chain until they were broken. He
then wandered forth ON a marauding
tour. Coming to the cathedral, which
was frame building, he loosened the
clapboards and commenced. to rip
them off one by one. Getting into the