The Arizona sentinel., 1888-09-08
STORIES OF BABooNs.
Pet with Some Undesirable Tricks, But
 Easily Controlled.

EaSfly COntrOied.
 "When on the voyage to my post of duty in the United States steamer Monacacy,'' said the Colonel, "we 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- tions which would in any way aid mo in the study of natural history, came across a 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 of by the baboons. He made up his mind at one time to put a stop to their depredations, and so he erected matched hut overlook ing the garden and placed 8 man in it with a loaded rife. The baboons, 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 baboons, having become care- less by success, were filling their cheek pouches with pumpkins, when the man crept back to his lodge, and, firing, ;a1 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 had been party to the commission of murder A short distance from the house was 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 distance we could see a company of baboons 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- toying the sport hugely. I saw in this same country monster baboon belonging to soldier in an English regiment. 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 he was usually arrayed. He lived too high, however, became very much bloated, and died of an affection of the liver While 1 was stationed at Port Louis, French officer gave me bab- oon, 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 cer- tainly 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. 1 could always control him by merely 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 and tied him up when was not on hand to watch him. Ho would feel in my pockets for fruit when l came home, and when he found any the least bit bruised or dirty he would reject it, He was great imitator. Sitting by my side while writing, he would take up the pen when l 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- cidlly fond of the latter. He saw me bore hole with 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 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 building, he went into the chancel and proceeded to tear up the Bible. The sexton came in, intending if possible to save the property from destruction, but the baboon picked up hymn-books and pelted him with such force that he was glad to retreat Finally Mir. Baboon got upon the roof and began to tear off the shingles. The police at this juncture leveled their revolvers at him and poor Jean Louis fell to the earth dead baboon. "-Brookly1s Eagle.
 He had invited her to a tabte q hOte dinner and was nervous about the