THE BABOONS. 255 



they seemed to pause and scan us carefully before they 

 decamped to a glen on the right. With all speed we followed 

 them. ... As one of our party had only small shot, and 

 the other nothing but a stick, I insisted upon their remaining 

 close at my side, knowing that a full-grown Baboon, when 

 infuriated, is as dangerous a foe as a Leopard. . . . Behind 

 one of the embankments we took our position. Only a few 

 minutes had elapsed when we could distinctly recognise them 

 as a herd of Baboons. The boy said he was quite sure that 

 they were on their way to the water ; but to our surprise they 

 did not make any further advance. A quarter of an hour 

 passed half an hour still no symptom of their approach. 

 All at once, as if they had started from the earth by magic, at 

 the open end of the pond, not sixty yards from our place of 

 ambush, stood two huge males. . . . Being anxious to 

 watch the movements of the animals I refrained from firing, 

 and determined to see what would follow next. Both Baboons 

 sprang towards the water, and leaning down, drank till they 

 were satisfied ; then, having gravely stretched themselves, they 

 stalked away solemnly on all fours in the direction of the 

 herd. There was little doubt, therefore, that they had been 

 sent forward to reconnoitre ; for as soon as they got back, the 

 entire herd put itself in motion, and made its way towards the 

 pond. There were mothers taking care of their little ones ; 

 there were the half-grown animals, the boys and girls of the 

 company ; but there did not seem to be more than three or 

 four full-grown males. At first only one Baboon at a time 

 came to the water's edge, and having taken its draught retired 

 to the rest ; but when about ten of them had thus ventured 

 separately, they began to come in small groups, leaving the 

 others rolling and jumping on the sand. ... It was not 



