We Had Several Times Disturbed Antelopes During The Early Portion
Of The March, And We Had Just Ascended From The Rugged Slopes Of
The Valley, When We Observed A Troop Of About A Hundred Baboons,
Who Were Gathering Gum Arabic From The Mimosas; Upon Seeing Us,
They Immediately Waddled Off.
"Would the lady like to have a
girrit (baboon)?" exclaimed the ever-excited Jali:
Being answered
in the affirmative, away dashed the three hunters in full gallop
after the astonished apes, who, finding themselves pursued, went
off at their best speed. The ground was rough, being full of
broken hollows, covered scantily with mimosas, and the stupid
baboons, instead of turning to the right into the rugged and
steep valley of the Settite, where they would have been secure
from the aggageers, kept a straight course before the horses. It
was a curious hunt; some of the very young baboons were riding on
their mothers' backs: these were now going at their best pace,
holding on to their maternal steeds, and looking absurdly human;
but, in a few minutes, as we closely followed the Arabs, we were
all in the midst of the herd, and with great dexterity two of the
aggageers, while at full speed, stooped like falcons from their
saddles, and seized each a half-grown ape by the back of the neck
and hoisted them upon the necks of the horses. Instead of biting,
as I had expected, the astonished captives sat astride of the
horses, and clung tenaciously with both arms to the necks of
their steeds, screaming with fear.
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