Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-10-31
STORIES OF BABooNs-
A Fet 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, 1--WE call
ed at the Cape Of Good Hope. 1 made
a pedestrian trip down the coast, COW
ering thirty 10 forty miles. While
travelling along and making observa-
tions which would in any way aid me
in the study OF natural history, l came
across a Scotch missionary named Cap
tain Miller, who was the only white
man for many miles, his neighbors be-
ing all IIottentots. lie showed me
about the place, and when he came tn
his garden said that IL was unfortunate
that all the vegetables and fruit lad
been carried of by the baboOus. He
made up his mind az one time To put a
stop TO their depredatlOns, and 50 he
erected matched hut overlooking the
garden and placed man IN IL with
loaded rifle. The tabOonS, however,
were very cute. They would watch
until the man went 10 dinner, and then
they would post seutinels while others
or their number would seize rs many
ripe vegetables as they could carry and
make of with them 10 their mountain
retreats. one day the balloons, having
become careless by success. were filling
their cheek pouches with pumpkins,
when the man Crept back 10 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 lie would
never let another one of the animals be
killed IL they ate up all his vegetables,
lie said that the death agOnies of the
creature were exactly like a human be-
ing. lie looked up pitifully into my
face said Captain Miller, while his
cries for help were so pitIful that felt
as If l had been a party to the commIs-
sion of a MURDER y short distance
from the house was a high bluff, and at
the request of the missionary l walked
out there to witness what he termed a
wonderful sight, which truly 1t WAS.
At "A distance we could see a company
of babOOus at play. by looking through
our glasses every movement was distinct
" discerniblp. The little ones were
sliding down chute like those made
by passing logs down a mountain side.
They would slide down on their poster
iOrs. while the older animals, probably
their parents, would stand with big
sticks III their hands, apparently enjoy
ing the sport hugely. l saw IN this
same country a monster babOon belong
ing To a soldier in an English reg gIment.
He had been taught many tricks by the
soldier, one of which was TO draw the
cork from wine bottle and drink the
contents. They provided a uniform
for him, in which lie was usually az
rayed. He lived too high, however,
became very much bIoated. and died OF
an affection Of the liver. While | WAS
stationed ut Port Louis, Il French Of
icer gave me a baboOn, which was con-
sIdered quite pet. lie was silver
gray IN color and very glossy. l never |
could ascertain the exact species TO |
which lie belonged. and he was GER
tainly a curiosity. He was quite young |
when captured, but grew 10 be about |
four feet high and very stout. As he |
became older he became a dangerous |
fellow TO have round; for instance, he /
would 90 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. l could /
always control him by merely shaking /
NY finger at HIM and calling his name, |
which was Jean Louis. but for safety's
axe placed an iron band around his
waist and tied him up when l was not
q, ksaiI,I 10 watch him. He would feel
n my pockets for fruit when l came
lone, and when he found any the least
,it bruised or dirty he would reject it.
lie was great lmitatOr. Sitting 10y
ny side while writing, IA would take
Ip the pen when l had gone, dip II in
he ink, and scratch the paper, making
! sorry mess of whatever came IN his |
way. He, too, would draw a cork and
irink the contents of the bottle, be 1t
vine or brandy, but he was especially
Ond of the latter. lie saw me bore
hole with q gimlet and Immediately |
me, and the same with driy-
ng a nail. l had a suit of clothes
made for him, intending TO bring hIm
10 America with me had not a sad fate
)yertdkeu him. one day he took
stone and hammered the links of his
chain until they We're broken. He then /
wandered forth on a maTauding tour.
Coming to the cathedral, which was a
frame building, he lOOSened the clap
boards and commenced to rip them of
one by one. Getting into the building,
he went into the cEauCel and proceeded
TO tear up the Bible. The sexton came
In, intending il possible TO save the
property from destruction, but the bab-
oon picked up hymn-bOoks and pelted |
him with such force that he was glad 10 |
retreat. Finally Mr.. Balloon got upon |
the roof and began to tear off the shin
giles. The police ut this juncture level |
Ell their revolvers at him and poor Jean |
Louis fell to the earth a dead babOOn. D"