Some months ago I met Col. John B. George, who was then the executive vice president of the African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, Inc. He is an authority on East Africa and has spent many years there, and is a fervent devotee of the land, its people, and its natural resources, particularly the wildlife. Following a telephone conversation, he came over on Sunday morning to meet some fifth-plus generation Africans who have settled in Virginia. It was a pleasure to behold his enthusiasm and delight over seeing these creatures so typical in line, expression, and movement of their native land, enjoying domestic tranquility. He was so obviously intrigued with everything about these Basenjis, as he said it, "shen-zis", and said that the faces and expressions were a familiar sight in so many villages where he had been. Doubtless very few were pure Basenji, but the influence was so strong that seeing them was a poignant reminder of happy memories and fascinating experiences.

While he was questioning me about Basenjis here, I was pumping him for his reminiscences of those in Africa. Needless to say, it was an enthralling visit, and I am sure that on his next trip he will better mark their whereabouts, conformation, and deeds of prowess. He did say that atypical of the usual African attitude toward dogs in many areas the natives appeared to be genuinely fond of their little Basenjis.

One tale that enchanted me was of a trip into the bush, when he was walking down a narrow game trail quite restricted on either side by dense vegetation. Suddenly, coming at full speed toward him was a bush-buck pursued by four red-and-white Basenjis. The bush-buck was as startled as he was and, fortunately, instead of impaling him on his horns, he banked off a tree, striking it with his hoofs, and dashed off at right angles into the undergrowth. The Basenjis did the same maneuver one after the other, glancing off the tree trunk and following their quarry. The whole action was so instantaneous that he said it was only in retrospect that he could follow the sequence of motion. The dogs were followed shortly by their master in hot pursuit. It was only a moment out of a day, but I could visualize it so well when he told it, and it gave me such a thrill that I hope the recounting of it second hand holds for the reader a little of what I felt in hearing it.

His knowledge of animals and the wild prompted me to ask him to speculate on some of the peculiar characteristics of Basenjis. On the barklessness and lack of doggy odor he thought this followed as a camouflage against leopards, which consider dog as one of the tastiest of morsels. They have been known to go into people's houses to prey on a pet dog. In fact, Basenjis have been seen in quantity living unprotected in areas where no one could bring a European dog and have it survive for any length of time. Their agility and fleetfootedness obviously has developed and been cultivated because those who lacked it didn't last long under the rigors of their life.

The observation that Basenjis require only small amounts of water compared to other dogs explains their survival during the long dry season of approximately eight months. They live even in villages where no surface water is to be found and are seldom if ever watered by the natives.

The heat period, which comes in the fall here, coincides with the short rains in their native environment. Hence water is plentiful and food is available when the puppies are whelped and weaned.

Perhaps I'll have more goodies to relate after the Georges' next stint in Africa.