ANIMAL HELPERS.
(To THE EDITOR 01 THE " SPICTATOZ."]
Sin,—Your paper is regularly forwarded to me in South Africa, and much appreciated by myself and my assistant- teachers. It has occurred to me to write a few remarks on an article on "Animal Helpers," which lately appeared in your columns, although to the bulk of your readers I fear they will appear somewhat tardy. One curious instance has been related to me from several sources. In driving the long spans of oxen which draw the waggons in this land a boy always leads the front pair and is called " leader," or " voor looper." Baboons have been trained to do this, only, I am told, they will never go through water, but, reaching a drift, would jump up on the yoke of the fore oxen. One baboon which travelled in this manner with his master was in the habit of sharing in his potations as well. A baboon was once, I have been told, used to turn the points on a railway, his master, who was lame, sitting by and directing.—I am, Sir, &c., A DWELLER IN SOUTH AFRICA.
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