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 asa 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 httle 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 inales. 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 
