APPLE FOR THE BABOON

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1934, Page 21 (Supplement)

APPLE FOR THE BABOON

FARMER’S GOOD FOR EVIL. TRUE STORY FROM SOUTH AFRICA. Many are the tales men tell of baboons in South Africa, but we can guess that the baboons have been chattering freely about one South African farmer and the surprise he gave them. One day a native arrived at their haunt in the Komga. mountains with a wagonload of apples, which he scattered for their breakfast. He had arrived with this present from Mr. Kritzinger, a farmer in Langkloof, who had also given the native a wagonload of apples. This generosity was. due to the amazinz success of this year’s apple crop, which reached an unheard-of record;

Mr. Kritzinger was so overjoyed that he declared that anybody could come aind help himself. He also decided to return good for evil, and that is why he sent a wagonload to the baboons. Baboons are among the worst enemies of the fruit-farmer in South Africa, coming down by night and robbing his orchards. When they come marauding they act with ailintelligence . positively, amazing,,sending put scouts to. see if the land is dear and posting sentinels to give warning of the approach of man. Their intelligence is extraordinary, as the ancient. Egyptians knew well, for they kept theni as. pets. There, is an ancient sculpture showing three baboons sitting in the branches of a fruit-bearing sycamore, slaves with baskets standing on either side of the tree receiving fruit picked by the baboons.