CORNERED BY BABOONS 279 



leave, they wore well-defined trails about the 

 base of the cliffs and in the thick jungle along 

 the streams. 



While we were passing through Uganda on 

 our way to the lake country, I left camp one 

 afternoon to set a line of traps for small mam- 

 mals. A deep pool of clear water tempted 

 me. I undressed and, leaving my clothes, bag 

 of traps, and rifle on the high bank, plunged 

 in for a swim. Finally, tiring of what was a 

 rare diversion in this generally waterless tract 

 of Central Africa, I climbed out. Scrambling 

 up the bank, I poked my head over the edge 

 and found myself face to face with a huge 

 baboon. The animal was standing beside my 

 belongings. Evidently he had just discovered 

 them. I have often wondered what he would 

 have done with my clothes had I not disturbed 

 him. Upon seeing me he burst into a discon- 

 certing guffaw and then wheeled about and 

 scurried away. 



The troop, of which he seemed to be the 

 leader, was following close behind; when he 

 gave the alarm they took the cue and stam- 

 peded. I watched them bound over the hun- 

 dred yards of open country, cross the creek, 



