THE BABOON. 23

victuals out of it, especially milk, of which he was very fond.
My people chastised him for these thefts; but that did not
make him amend his conduct. I myself sometimes whipped
him; but then he ran away, and did not return again to the
tent until it grew dark. Once, as I was about to dine, and
had put the beans, which I had boiled for myself, upon a
plate, I heard the voice of a bird with which I was not
acquainted. I left my dinner standing, seized my gun, and
ran out of the tent. After the space of about a quarter of
an hour I returned, with the bird in my hand, but, to my
astonishment, found not a single bean upon the plate. Kees
had stolen them all, and taken himself out of the way.
When he had committed any trespass of this kind, he used
always, about the time when I drank tea, to return quietly,
and seat himself in his usual place, with every appearance
of innocence, as if nothing had happened; but this evening
he did not let himself be seen. And, on the following day,
also, he was not seen by any of us; and, in consequence,
I began to grow seriously uneasy about him, and apprehen-
sive that he might be lost for ever. But, on the third day,
one of my people, who had been to fetch water, informed
me that he had seen Kees in the neighbourhood, but that,
as soon as the animal espied him, he had concealed himself
again. I immediately went out and beat the whole neigh-
bourhood with my dogs. All at once, I heard a cry, like
that which Kees used to make, when I returned from my
shooting, and had not taken him with me. I looked about,
and at length espied him, endeavouring to hide himself
behind the large branches of a tree. I now called to him
in a friendly tone of voice, and made motions to him to come
down to me. But he could not trust me, and I was obliged
to climb up the tree to fetch him. He did not attempt to fly,
and we returned together to my quarters; here he expected
to receive his punishment; but I did nothing, as it would
have been of no use.