The hydraulic press., 1861-06-22
Negro superstitions-The Gorilla.

Negro Supersttt1Ons-Tne GORILLA.
A very interesting work has lately been
printed, forming the "Adventures of Paul B.
du Chailu in Equatorial Afrca,"-a region
where roams that mysterious and till late
years comparatively unknown animal, the
Gorilla, nearer connecting link between
man and the brute than the ourang outang.
NJ. du Chaillu gives the following to show
in what superstitious dread this beast is held
by the negroes. The author and his party
have been hunting and are encamped for the
night:
"The evening was spent, as was usual On
such occasions, in telling superstitious sto-
ries of the powers and evil doings of the
mysterious brute, which has taken so strong
a hold of the imaginations of these Africans
that it is in all these regions household
word of dread. We Gull few of the many
curious stories which NJ. du Challu thus
gathered at different times around the camp
fire. He says Il listened in silence to the
conversation which was not addressed to
me, and was rewarded by hearing the stories
as they are believed, and not as stranger
would be apt to draw them out by questions.
One of the men told of two Mbcndemo wo-
men who were walking together through the
woods, when suddenly an immense gorilla
stepped into the path, and clutching one Of
the women, bore her off in spite of the
screams and struggles Of both. The other
woman returned to the village sadly fright
ened, and related the story Of course her
companion was given up for lost. Great
was the surprise, therefore, when few days
afterwards she returned to her home. She
related that the gorilla had forced her to
accompany him for many miles, but had not
seriously injured her, and that she had easily
escaped from him.
ayes said one, that was gorilla in
habited by spirit
I" Which explanation was received with a
general grunt of approval.
"They believe, in all this country, that
there is kind of gorilla known to the in
itiated by certain mysterious signs, but
chiefly by being of Extraordinary size-which
is the residence uf certain spirits of departed
negroes. Such gorillas, the natives believe,
cannot be caught or killed and, also, they
have much more shrewdness and sense than
the common animal. In fact in these
possessed beasts, it would seem that the Ing
telligence of man is united with the strength
and ferocity of the beast. No wonder the
poor African breads so terrible being as
his imagination thus conjures up.
"One of the men told how, some years
ago, party of gorillas were found in u cane
field tying up the sugar-cane in regular
bundles, preparatory to carrying it away.
The natives attacked them, but were routed
and several killed, while others were carried
off prisoners by the gorillas; but in few
days they returned home uninjured, with
this horrld exception: the nails of their
fingers and toes had been torn off by their
captors.
"Some years ago man suddenly dsap-
peared from his village. 1t is probable tha:
he was carried off by tiger; but as no news
came Of him, the native superstition invented
a cause for his absence. 1t was related and
believed that, as be walked through the
wood one day, he was suddenly changed
into hideous large gorilla, which was often
pursued afterward but never killed, though
it continually haunted the neighborhood of
the village.
"Here several spoke up and mentioned
names of men now dead whose spirits were
known to be dwelling in gorillas
Finally was rehearsed the story which is
current among all the tribes who at all know
the gorilla; that this animal lies in wait in
the lower branches of trees, watching for
people who go to and fro and, when one
passes sufficiently near, grasps the luckless
fellow with his powerful feet and draws him
up into the tree, where he quietly chokes
him.