148 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



following the course of the river. Character of the 

 country remained about the same — rolling, thinly 

 wooded green hills to the left, with wide green valleys 

 between ; the river, with a narrow strip of high trees ; and 

 higher hills some distance back on the other side. Many 

 taU, slim pahns with tufted tops, growing singly and in 

 groups. About a mile down we saw a baboon family 

 or tribe of fifty or sixty that had not yet arisen. These 

 animals rest in the tops of the taU trees, so as to escape 

 the leopards. They take a good grip with their hind 

 hands, hump up in a furry ball, and sleep. The main 

 lot discovered us and made off; but one old gentleman, 

 undisturbed by the noise of the exodus, slumbered on 

 aU alone. When he did wake up and discover us below 

 him, he uttered some shocking language. 



About four miles on saw a big bull eland and a cow 

 feeding together in a glade between two ravines that 

 here come into the river. By crawling some distance 

 I got within range, and gave him one in the point of 

 the shoulder. He leaped forward. My second shot 

 was intercepted by a tree. Third caught him running, 

 other shoulder, at about 200 yards. Then I made two 

 good running shots through timber at about 300 yards, 

 and he came down. Left the gunbearers to care for him 

 and went on down and made camp among the date 

 palms by the river; twelve miles. Sent men back for 

 meat and loafed. Got hold of some fly-blown meat, 

 and am not well, for the first time on this trip. 



