Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-10-13
Importan. Discovery In the Interior OF
Afrfcn.

Mn BENNFTT.-Dear Sir.-~I hasten communicate
10 you remarkable piece Of intelligence which have
Just received from friend Of mind recently returned
from his travels ia the interior OF Africa The question
whether the human species did not originally spring
from the monkey tribe-that agitaed the mind 81 many
the ancient philosophers and occupied the attention 81
some modern savans--scems 10 be fully seulcd.
Nv friend ulier penetrating beyond the ~ the
Niger discovered a race Of balloons in comparative
Of civilization indeed, much 50, that they gath
cred together III groups about once m ten days in
large orchaid practice certain cvoutous under the
command 81 a large ape who was ianastcaly arraycd
IN bits Of different ceored rags, such red yellow blue
aud green while the carried straight stick in their
arms which folded tie breast with the
ludictous uniformity; their heads they half
gouris scooped out 70 shell with numerous devices
painted thea from the juice ct berries. II - really
remarkable he tells me- witness the gravity 81 each
countevancc during these exercises, and the alacry
with which ,hey obeycd all orders from the command
ing monkey, Who when Invested Of his gala robes,
the meanes looking monkey Of his tribe. II also ap
pears that they have made considerable proficiency III
language, they understand several different tongues
anil have many missionaries several parts of the
world in order make discoveries. and advance the
cause Of civilization. One had Just returned from Anne
ri aud my friend present the grand council Of
the nation assembled to hear his report which when
given. he Immediately translated into English Alter
they had all seated themselves under the shade Of a
large tree ocko STEPPED in front Of his audience and
thus beganYe grave aud holy monkeys whose wisdom
Il above all Of the earth and who boast Of I'll
knowledge past and come listen 10 my TAIL and learn
globe for have discovered nation Of brethren, whose
knowledge Of the arts, and whose manners bear the
stamp of a common origin with us--tbey dress them
selves in bits of rcd and white with boxes their heads
and an iron pipe the shoulder heavy that many Of
the younger Of them stagger with the load bat this they
endure with great deal Of fortitude the knowing
soothc them when they ready faint by telling Them
Il is glory-thcy follow leader through the streets
who wears a split moon his head, and carries q
butcher knife in his hand which he brandshes around
his head and talks of blood and thunder patriotism and
finc with al such like A little behind him
three animals Of this nation, carrying barrels
ntron, fthem which they beat with stick like dc
mons IN rage aud equal number with hollow reeds
stuck Y their mouths through which they make shr
sound Ike inud turtles 10 the night while their swollen
cheeks resemble The head Of chanting frog in marsh
THINK not reverend monkeys, that hey ~ per
lect state OF civilization arc BY no means =
Ours sage athers are but the sports Of mincry, which
serve a. show our superior wisdom the degenerate
i race We initiate whose iocs W know have ever been
the theme of our rnrth, while they, in sober earnest
practice Ill these fantastic tricks which they told me
was bu preparation for wholesale murder Here The
whole assembly cried out. Oh However / think II
must be sheep thai the, Mn, rs never saw any blood
on ~ them hui once snl tha 90 the face of
captain who had fallen mo- commissions, and scratched
himself on the ground hearing The rumor Of an ap
pr0acnIng while all the band groaned and cripd