Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1919 — TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SENTRY [ARTICLE]

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SENTRY

How South African Farmers Repel Invasion of Their Corn Fields by Band* vof Baboons. Aprqpos of a statement in the news’ papers that the baboons in Soutiw Africa were easy victims of. the 0 " isli “flu,” very few people realize how human these animals are. They are very like men in some respects, observes a writer in London Answ«n« For instance, a troop of baboons—for it has been proved that they neatly always go about in large companies —always post a sentry, He is placed in some prominent position, so that he can give immediate warning in the event of any hostile attack. The baboon’s cry somewhat resembles a German “Hoch!” shouted through a megaphone, and it is possible to talk to them by means of it. A baboon is said to be able to count up to two, ami not beyond that; and as they come in large numbers and carry off the ripe mealies, steps have to be taken to repel them. Ami so, when the mealies get ripe, three men walk into the field with their guns and lie down. After a time one of them gets ufrand goes out and the baboon sentry ebunts —one. Later on another goes out, and as the sentry only counted two men coming in, lie concludes that there is nobody left in the field and accordingly gives the signal, whereupon the whole troop swarms over the fence and begins 4 to gather the Corn. As soon as they are near enough the third man shoots them do.wn with a repeating rifle, and if he is a fairly good shot their numbers are greatly diminished. v