The Charlotte Democrat., 1888-09-28
CHARLOTTE. N. G., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1888.
About Balloons.


"When on the voyage to my post of
duty in the United States steamer Mono
caoy.'" said the Colonel, 'we called at the
Cape of Good Hope. made pedestrian
trip down the coast, covering thirty or
forty miles. While travelling along and
making observations which would in any
way aid me in the study of natural histo-
r, | came across a Scotch missionary
named Capt. Miller, who was the only
white man tor many miles, his neighbors
being all Hottentots. He. showed me
about the place, and when he came to his
garden said that it was unfortunate that
all the vegetables aud fruit had been car
ried off by the balloons. He made up his
mind at one time to put stop to their de-
predations, and so he erected a thatched
hut overlooking the garden, and placed q
man in it with loaded rifle. The bab-
oons, however, were very cute. They
would watch until the man went to din
ner, and they would post sentinels 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 careless by success, were filling
their cheek pouches with pumpkins, when
the man crept back to his lodge, land, fir
ing, wounded one which stood about four
feet high. Capt. Miller told me that the
scene which followed the shooting was so
painful to him that he made up bis mind
mat he would never let another one OF the
animals be killed il they ate up all his veg.
etables. He said that the death sgouies
of the creature were exactly like human
being. 'He looked up pitifully into my
face, said Capt. Miller, while his cries for
help we're so pitiful that I felt as ii had
been party to the commission of q MUIR
der.' A short distance from the house
was high bluff, and at the request of the
missionary walked out there to see,what
he termed wonderful sight, which truly
it was. At distance we could see num-
ber of balloons at play. By looking
through our glasses every movement was
discernible. TIE little ones were sliding
down chute like those made by passing
logs down a mountain-side. They would
slide down on their posteriors, while the
older animals, probably their mparents
would stand with big sticks in their hands
apparently enjoying the sport hugely.
saw in this same country monster baboor
belonging to a soldier in an English regi
ment. He had been taught many trick.
by the soldier, one of which was to draw
the cork from wine bottle and drink the
contents. They provided a uniform fol
him, in which he was usually arrayed. HI
lived too high, however, became very
much bloated, and died of an affection O
the liver. While | was stationed at Port
Louis French officer gave me baboon
which we considered quite pet. He wal
silver-grey in color, and very glossy.
never could ascertain the exact species to
which he belonged, and he was certainly
great curiosity. He was quite young
when captured, but grew to be about foul
feet high and very stout. AS he became
older he became a dangerous fellow tc
have round; for instance, he would go ur
into the bread-trees and pelt people whom
he didn't know with the bread-fruit. HI
would also take up large stones and hurl
them with great force and accuracy.
could always control him by shaking my
finger at him and calling his name, which
was Jean Louis, but for safety's sake
placed an iron band around his waist anG
tied him up when was not there to watct
him. He would feel in my pockets fol
fruit when / came home, and when b,
found any the least bit bruised or dirty b.
would reject it. He was great imitator
Sitting by my side while writing, b,
would take up the pen when I had gone
| dip it in the ink and scratch the paper
making sorry mess of whatever came il
the way. He, too, would draw cork ant
| drink the contents of bottle, be it win
| or brandy, but he was especially fond o
| the latter. He saw me bore a hole with
gimlet, and Immediately initiated me; ant
the same with driving nail. I had
suit of clothes made for him, intending tt
bring him to America with me had not
sad fate overtaken him. One day he tool
stone and hammered the links of tn
chain until they were broken. He the
wandered forth on a marauding tour
Coming to the cathedral, which was
frame building, he loosened the clapboard
and commenced to rip them off one b.
one. Getting into the building, he wen
into the chancel and proceeded to tear u
the Bible. The sexton came in, intending
if possible to save the property from d.
struction, but the baboon picked up hym
books aud pelted him with such force tha
he was glad to retreat. Finally, Mr. Bal
oon got upon the roof and began to tea
of the shingles. The police, at this juno
ture, leveled their revolvers at him, an
poor Jean Louis fell to the earth a dea
baboon. n."-Brooklyn Eagle