The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-08-28
BAB00N WARFARE.
Astonishing Military Organization
Of African Apes,
The simians Are Wen Organized
for Plumber or Defence

cent exploration Of their iavorile
haunts, duo to the troubles 10 Central
Africa and Abyainia. Tho English,
German aud italian travellers and
emissaries who have been employed
IN various missions on tho fringo8 OF
the Abyssiuian plateau have corro-
borated many stories which have
hitherto been suspected to DO exag-
geratIons Of fact II now appears that
their methods aud discipline are far
IN advance of those OF any other ver-
tebrate animals, and not inferior to
those Of some Of the native tribes
themselves
The different species Of bnboons,
which are found commonly over the
whole African continent, are all 10y
nature dwellers in the open country
They End their food on the ground,
and, whether this be insects or vege-
tables, it is usually in places which
afford little shelter OF protection.
Though strong and we'll armed with
teeth, they are slow animals, with lit
Gle of the usual monkey agility when
on the ground, and not particularly
active even when climbing among
rocks In the rocky "kopies" OF the
South or the cliffs and river sides of
Abyssinia, aud the Nile tributaries,
they are safe enough. But they often
abandon these to invade the low cOun-
try. When on expeditions of this
kind they often leave their stronghold
for days together, aud the means Of
joint defence from enemies in the open
country are then carefully organized.
Their natural enemies when thus ex-
posed are the leopard, the lion, aud,
in South Africa, the Cape wild dogs
To the attack of the leopard they OPP
pose numbers and discipline No en-
counter between the balloons and wild
dogs has been witnessed and described,
but their defensive operations against
domesticated dogs we're seen and re-
corded by the German naturalist,
Brehm. The following account APP
pears in the translation of his travels
by Mrs. Thompson, just published:
The balloons were on fiat ground,
crossing a valley, when the travellers
dogs, Arab greyhounds, accustomed
to fight successfully with hyenas and
other beasts OF prey, rushed toward
the balloons. Only the females took
to flight; the males, on the contrary
turned to face the dogs, growled, beat
the ground with their hands, opened
their mouths wide and showed their
glittering teeth, and looked at their
adversaries so furiously and malicious
ly that the hounds usually bold and
battle-hardened shrank back. BY
tho time the dogs were encouraged
to renew the attack, the whole herd
had made their way, covered by the
rearguard, to the rocks, except a six.
months old monkey which was left
behind. The little monkey sat on a
low rock, surrounded by the dogs, but
was rescued by an old baboon, who
stepped down from the cliff near,
advanced toward the dogs, kept
taem in check by gestures and
menacing sounds, picked up the baby
monkey and carried it to the cliff,
where the dense crowd of monkeys
shouting their battle.cry, were watch
ing his heroism. The march of the
balloons is not mere expedition o
the predatory members OF the com
nunity. The whole nation "treck'
together, and make war on the cult.
waited ground in common. Their com
munities are numerous enough t.
reproduce in miniature the move
ments OF troops. The tribe Otter
numbers from go to 800 individuals
OF these the females and young ar
placed in the centre when on tn
march, while the old males march il
front and close the rear. Other male
scout upon the tanks. 1t has bee
Noticed that these remain on guard
and do not feed during the whole tim
that the rest are gathering provendei
If disturbed by men, the old male
form a rear guard and retire withou
an hnate nnnwino tie femalns IN