Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-30
BABOOy HUNTS ~ AFRICA.
War to the Death Waged BY Afri-
handlers Ipon Monkeys.
(Paris Figaro.)

paris Figaro)
The South African colonists have got
rid Of their lions and elephants. but they
have not yet been able to get the better
of the balloons. \ babOOn. although
somewhat like dog. has all the mis-
chievousness Of a man. II Is the ugllest
animal in all creation. The Beers caH
him Adonis. and never designate him under
the official name that has been given 10
him by science. Now, this creature is the
curse of the Cape Colony. He COMMITS
depredations for the love OF the thing
Any imprudent tomcat that ventures too
far away from home is sure TO be cap
tured and straagled for fun by a baboon
Nearly all the Angoras, the choicest ana
most costly animals imported by the
colonlsts. have been destroyed by these
huge monkeys. Even the dogs share
the same fate. The bravost and most
pugnacous of the English canine breeds
are unable to cope with adversaries arm
ed with just as powerful jaws. and with
the immense advantage of having four
hands instead of four paws. with
dexterity that conspicuousy exhibits his
surgical aptitudes, the baboon bleeds his
enemy in the throat, and in less than
minute the duel ends In the death of the
dog.
When the shepherd is away and the dog
has been disposed OF the flock is left
without defence. Although the baboon
generally feeds upon lizards and beetles.
he does not despise a few mouthfuls of
mutton. which he devours seated on the
back of his living victim. Uafortunate
are the goats and sheep that are attack
ed by these cynocephali! When Adonis
finds his appetite fully satisfied he enjoys
at a little distance the contOrtions of his
victim. He frequently attacks cows
but never attempts TO get into close quar-
tiers with a bull. The ostrich, thanks
TO its extraordinary speed, can easily get
away from the baboon, but it is very
much afraid of him, and Immediately
runs off on hearing his bark. 1t is note
worthy that nature has given to the
baboon not only the head of a dog but
also the voice of a dog. All birds that
are not remarkable for their intelligence
have an insurmountable dread of the
cynocephalus.
one of the principal amusements Of
these big monkeys is TO gambol around the
wire fences that protect the tame os-
triches. just to terrify them. The
that they often break their legs
in their wild rushes. This is
pastme which the monkeys seem TO en-
JOY hugely. 1t is known that a broken
leg for an ostrich means death sentence.
a baboon runs away from man, but
he has 10 fear of a woman. After all,
there is no good ground for the mortal
terror which Adonis inspires among some
Of the negro women of South Africa.
AS a matter of fact, the fear of the
cynocephali is often merely preiext
among the young Zulu and Basuto bellies
TO get the escorts OF their choice 10 ac-
company them 10 the wells. The baboon
is a very bad fellow and an intolerable
neighbor, but he should not be slandered.
The Adonises travel in packs of about
fifty or sixty. They always keep out
OF gunshot range and watch for chance
to do mischief in the absence Of shep-
herds or guards. To get rid of the ugly
marauders the colonists some time ago
established poisoning clubs, which were
subsidized by the British authorities.
All the Old poisons and the new discov-
cries of chemistry were tried, but they
proved worthless. a hungry panther or
jackal might easily enough swallow few
grains of arsenic or a strychnine pill
placed in q piece of raw meat, but a
baboon IS never deceived by so simple
a method. He is a delicate and refined
fellow, accustomed generally to live upon
eggs, fruits, lizards, and different kinds
OF insects. He becomes carniyorous Mt
rare intervals only and apparently, in
some degree, at least, for the pleasure
of torturing the unfortunate domestic
animals that may fall into his clutches.
His infallible instinct teaches him to
distrust men, even when they are offer
ing presents. With a marvellous scent
that might well do honor to a profess
sional expert, he detects the presence
Of mineral or vegetable poison in the
quarter OF mutton that he finds by chance
as he travels along. Moreover, he Is
thoroughly aware of the fact that wise
apes in permanent contact with barbar-
ians from Europe should never swallow
pills.
These animals are possessed OF almost
human intelligence. III Is impossible 10 get
near them in the daytime, and ar night,
during their hours OF repose. they are
always surrounded by Gordon CT SEN
t.nels, whose vigilance is absolute. At
the slightest indication OF the approach
of an enemy, one Of the sentinels yellS.
Yah hou! Yah hour And in an instant
the whole troop disappears. 1t is uDfor-
tunate that. in his dictionary Of the Ian
guage OF monkeys. Mr. Garner does not
give us the exact derivation OF yah
hou"
1t is also noteworthy that the balloons
never attempt to fly II the man who
comes to trouble their reposefs not armed