The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-07
AN AL BiNO BABOON.
He VIII Leave His Native Africa In
Search of a Fortune.

From Kimberly. south Africa. one
hears of baboon who should lose nc
time in emi@rating TO this country.
saws the n. Y. Ereniag Sun. Il is re-
ported that he intends to 90 10 Eng
land rs soon as he has made enough
money in the colony to pay his travel
ing expenses but he may be assured
that he will find it more profitable to
visit this freak-loving nation than the
cynical Islanders.
He is called an albino baboon be-
cause his hair and skin are snow-while
The skin is said to resemble dressed
white kid. His eyes are pink, and his
face, the palms OF his hands aud feet,
and his cailosities are llesh-colored.
No such baboon has ever been seen
before. and it is therefore difficult 10
classify him. He probably belongs TO
the species of pigfaced balloons, who
lock more like dogs than pigs. aud are
not uncommon in south Africa. This
baboon is sometimes known there as
the chacma-
The chacma belongs TO the first of
six species into which the balloons are
divided 1t has thirty-two teeth, like
dogs. and enormous strength. 1t has
usually been found savage and malig-
uant. and. if captured when full-growu,
untamabIc.
+ In wild state it feeds principally
on vegetables, Int in captivity becomes
omnivarous. Even when at large it is
not exclusively vegetarian, rs it is very
fond of scorpions. 1t breaks off their
tails. containing the sting, with re-
markablc promptness. and chews up
the rest of The body with visible salts
faction.
The ordinary chacma is of grayish
or greenish black. as to the upper part
of lis person. and paler underneath
lis face and cXtremities are violet
black, the eyes being surrounded by
rings of IA lighter shade. It's tail Is
lengthy and ends in tiff.
While white baboon has. it is be-
lievcd. ever appeared before, most of
the primary colors can be found on
members of the race. The mandrill,
red nose, and bright red patches else
where. 1t is. therefore, not surprising
that after all this prodigality of color
a white baboon should turn up.
The albino is about months old
aud rot full grown. He WAS caught
by boer in the Waterbury district of
the Transvaal. The captor had to
shoot his mother, and it was lucky that
he belonged to a race of dead shots,
for she was going to make short work
Of him.
1t is misfortune that she took such
a course of action. as she might have
thrown some light on the mystery of
her sons origin, his white coat and
pink eyes. She was chacma.
Perhaps the most surprising thing
about him is his gentle and equable
temper.
Balloons who have been reduced to
something like tameness have never
been qualified to boast of an even
temper. They are. remarkable for
passing from Il state of childish en- Joy
ment to one of senseless rage. When
one is kept in Il domestic establishment
it has to be tied TO something solid, like
4 house. by stout iron chain fastened
at the baboon's end TO a heavy leather
belt which engirdles its waist.
The good qualities no less than the
novel appearance of our Kimberly
friend have gained for him the patron
age of President Kruger of the South
African republic, and other eminent
personages.