268 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1936 



steps, I found at least 50 unauthorized spearmen hanging in the 

 rear hoping for the opportunity of attacking the gorillas. In fact, 

 I was warned that if I did not personally see this crowd out of the 

 locality, the moment my back was turned they intended going in to 

 spear the male before he could get away from the tree, after which 

 the slaughter of the other four would have been simple. Knowing 

 full well that unauthorized they dare not attempt aggression, they 

 were quite ready to take advantage of the presence of a European, 

 afterwards making a misunderstanding their excuse. It shows how 

 easily an unfortunate episode may develop unless all participants 

 in gorilla investigations are authorized and absolutely under control. 



The second meeting was more carefully planned (in March 1934), 

 and the Wambutte, who had been instructed to locate gorillas and 

 then keep in touch with them, were successful on the first day in 

 finding a troop many miles to the north, and for the next 9 days 

 were in contact with this and other bands, so that when the Governor 

 arrived, it was possible the following morning to take him to a troop 

 of eight within 1^^ hours' march of camp. 



Nearly 21^ hours were spent in the proximity of this lot, but owing 

 to the excessive density and height of the undergrowth, in spite of 

 the general conditions being exceptionally favorable, practically no 

 opportunity was afforded of taking a photograph. This was not 

 due to the gorillas having been disturbed, as, until the last half 

 hour they were unaware of our presence, but just on account of the 

 nature of the vegetation. Although, while under observation, they 

 did not move out of an area of a few hundred yards square, one 

 always seemed to be 5 minutes behind them. Vantage points used 

 overlooked clearly patches of flattened undergrowth which would 

 have provided marvelous photographic subjects if only the gorilla 

 depredator could have been caught in the act. 



But there is another side to the story when one is lamenting what 

 "might have been." When there are eight unsuspecting gorillas 

 feeding contentedly extremely near at hand, and when the precise 

 location of never more than four of five is known at one and the same 

 time, it behooves one to move forward very cannily, for if perchance 

 one surprised a lagging female, her cry of alarm would in all 

 probability provoke the male to more than wrath. 



On this occasion it was lucky that it was possible always to keep 

 above the feeding troop, which obviated considerabl}'- the possibility 

 of serious danger. At one place the party stood on a broad platform 

 overlooking the main valley : immediately below was a small feeder. 

 It was a perfect setting for a picture — the vegetation-choked valley, 

 a magnificent bank of tree-ferns growing on the abrupt opposite 

 side, havoc just below the platform where the gorillas had fed a 



