The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-08 00:00:00

LIT.ER,I7'U.RE.

.Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa.
By M. Paul. Du Chaillu. Murray.
Many adventurous spirits have penetrated into
the wilds of Africa, both in the north and south,
but until a few years ago none had dared the un-
known regions of the burning equator. England
may be proud of the discoveries of Bruce, Living.
stone, and other eminent pioneers of civilisation ;
but it was reserved for France and America to
divide the boast that a French American was the
first white man who penetrated into the interior of
Equatorial Africa, furnishing valuable geographical
and ethnological information, and contributed vari-
ous new and rare specimens to our zoological col-
lection. M. du Chaillu left America for the western
coast of Africa in the year 1856, with the
intention of spending, some years in the
exploration of the region of the equator, and of
penetrating as far back beyond the Sierra del
Crystal es possible. It is to be remembered that
hitherto, although the existence of white. men had
been known by report to the tribes and nations of
the interior, before M. du Chaillu's advent, they had
never seen one of these wonderful beings. Alone,
and trusting only to his own resources, did this ad-
venturous explorer enter upon the unknown. His
desire was, as he expresses himself in his preface,
firstly, to discover whether in the interior a more
healthy situation could not be found for the Ameri-
can mission, which suffered much on the coast ;
secondly, to examine the rivers, and determine if
they were suitable for vessels of light tonnage; and
lastly, but by no means of the least importance,
in the eyes of M. du Chiallu to hunt the gorilla, an
ape of the largest size, which had until then only a
mythical existence; for although the skin of a young
one had some time previously been sent to England,
the habits, size, and ferocity of this nearest link to
humanity in the animal chain was dependent on
the tales of the natives of the coast. How well he
has succeeded, the perusal of his account of his
adventures and the flattering reception he hasre-
ceived froM the Geographical and Ethnological
Societies,*will bear witness. Before entering upon
a sketch of these interesting travels, we may re-
mark that, although travelling among savages, and
in continual peril, more or less, from both man and
beast, M. du Chaillu makes light of his own adven-
tures, and never brings himself into prominent
notice, except when necessary; this modesty is
very commendable, and gives a truthfulness
to the narration of certain events which
certainly have a touch of the 'marvellous.
The region of his exploration, although circum-
scribed in extent, extending about 400 miles in a
direct line from the coast, and two degrees north
and south of the equator, from the River Mundi,
in Corisco Bay, on the north, to the Ferroand Vas
and Cape Catharine on the south, contain many
wonders. It is a curious fact that the farther he
penetrated, the more manly and intellectual the
inhabitants became—superstition, of course, hold-
ing a supreme command of these, as of other Afri-
can nations. As the gorilla has claimed this work
as its own, M. du Chaillu's travels being, in general,
termed, "The Gorilla book," we will give the gigantic
ape the first place in our notice. The author found
it in several districts, his first meeting with it was
in the Fan country which lies to the eastward of the
Mends river. He had contrived by presents to
maker friends with the natives, but he had a great
advantage in having spent several years on the coast
with his father trading. He was well known to
many of the kings or chiefs, who introduced him to
their: connections in the interior, who again for-
warded him on his way, he having established'his
footing with them by his kind and generous dis-
position, backed by his cool daring and his sur-
prising skill with his rifle. He thus describes his
first gorilla :