The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-15

NJ
suers hut not before M. Du Chaillu had been
wounded in the SIDE and Igalu, the unlucky
cause of all the disaster, but our travellers
staunchest and most intrepid friend, had Deen
wounded in the leg. Happily, all reached the
coast in life and health, in September; and NJ.
Dn Chaillu embarked Tor England, where In
classic TWickenham, he has spent the interyen-
ing months in celebrating the volume which
has already given entertainment TO thousands,
and brought its author into hot water and dis
mutation with mis- old critic, Mr.. Gray, of the
British Museum, about, inter ala, an elegant
animal which, for its sins, OF for some other
REGULARITY, has been entitled Potamogale Velox.
Persons who have dropped tear at the un-
tmelyiate OF the chimpanzee at the Crystal Palace
will be gratifed with the following Information
about the early history of Master Thomas. In
a note at the end OF the chapter In which the
the following paragraphs occur, M. Du Chaillu
pathetlcally informs us that ''the fire ut the
Crystal Palace, to which my unfortunate pet
fell a sacrifice, occurred whilst these sheets
were passing through the press.n
ION the lst OF November a negro from neigh
boring village brought me young male CHM
panzee about three years old, which had been
caught in the woods on the banks of the Npou-
lounay about three months previously. Thomas,
for so chrlstened my little prOtege was a tricky
Dttle rascal, and afforded me no end of amuse-
ment; he was, however, very tame, like all
young chimpanzees. Unfortunately Thomas was
lame IN one hand, several of the fingers having
been broken, and healed up in distorted posi-
ton. This was caused by his having been NAL
treated by the village dogs, who were sent in
chase of him one day, when he escaped from his
captors and ran into the neghborng woods. |
had Tom tied by cord to q POLE in the verandah
OF my hut, and fed him with cooked plantains
and other food from my own table, He soon got
to prefer cooked to raw food, and rejected raw
plantains whenever they were offered to him.
The difference in tamability between the young
chimpanzee and the young gorilla is fact
which have confirmed by numerous observa-
lions, and | must repeat 1t here, as 1t was one
of those points which were disputed in my
"a nlr A rf1niu u1yon bop
tame and apparently reeonciled to captivity in
two or three days after be is brought from the
woods. The young gorilla have never yet
seen tame in confinement, although | have had
tour of them IN custody, while still of a very
early age.
"0ne day witnessed an act Of Master Thomas
which seemed TO me to illustrate the habits of
his species in the wild state. A few days after
he came into my possession i bought domestic
cat for my house; as soon as the young chu-
panzee saw 1t he flew in alarm TO his pole and
cambered up it, the hair of EIs body becoming
erect, and his eyes bright with excitement. In
q moment recovering himself he came down,
and rushing on the cat, with one of his feet
seized the nape of the animal, and with the
other pressed on Its back, as If trying 10 break
its neck. Not wishing to lose my cat, in
teriered and saved It's life. The negroes say
that the chimpanzee attacks the leopard IN this
way, and | have no doubt, from what / saw,
that their statement is correct.
my pet preserved his good health and in
creased in intelligence and gentleness
until = the departure of Captain vardon
on his arrival he was deposited by my
friend in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, where,
| dare say, very many Of my readers have seen
him, and have laughed at his amusing tricks. |
am crediby informed that his education at the
Palace has become SO far advanced that he un-
derstands what is going on when his own
'cartes de vislte' are sold. A teint is sometimes
made of carrying off one without paying for it,
but Thomas rushes forward, screaming, to the
length of his tether, to prevent the irregular
transaction, and does not cease his noisy eX-
presslons OF dissatisfaction until the money is
paid down.
From the chmpanzee to the gorilla ought not
to be very unnatural transitiOn:-
81 had not been at the village long before
news came that gorillas had been recently seen
in the neighborhOod of plantation only half
mile distant. Early in the morning of the 25th
ofJuEe wended my way thither, accompanied
by one of my boys, named Odanga. The plan
tation was large one, and situated on very
broken ground. surrounded by the virgin forest.
1t was q lovely morning; the sky was almost
cOudless, and all around was still as death, eX-
cept the slight rustng of the e-tOps moved
by the gentle land breeze. When ! reached the
place, / had first to pick my way through the
maze OF tree-stumpa and halt.9urnt logs
by the side of a field of cassada. l was GONG
quietly along the border OF tins, when heard,
in the grove of plantatn.trees towards which l
was walking, great crashing noise, like the
breaking OF trees. ] Immediately hid myself
behind a bush, and was soon gratlded with the
sight OF Il female gorilla; but before had time
to notice ITS movements, a second and third
emerged nom the masses Of colossal foliage; ut
length no less than four came into view.
''rhey were all busily engaged in tearing
down the larger trees. One OF the females mad
| young one following her. had an excellent
! opportunity of watching the movements of this
| lmpishlooking band. The shaggy hides, the
| Protuberant abdomens, the hideous features of
| these strange creatures, whose forms so
| nearly resemble man, made up picture
! like yisior like some morbid dream.
| In destroying a tree, they first grasped
| the base of the stem with one of their
! feet, and then with their powerful arms pulled
! it down, matter Of not much difficulty with
| so loosely formed a stem as that of the plan
! tain. They then set upon the juicy heart OF the
tree at the bases of the leaves, and devoured 1t
| with great vOraCty. While eating they made a
| kind OF CluCking noise, expressive of content
| menl. Many trees they destroyed apparently
! out of pure mischief. Now and then they stood
seemed on the point of starting off in alarm,
! but recovered themselves and continued
| their work. Gradually they got
! nearer to the edge of the dark forest
| and finally disappeared was so intent on watch
ing them, that let 90 the last chance OF shoot
| ing one almost before became aware OF 1t.
1.-THE next day went again with Odanga to
| the same spot. had no expectation OF seeing
! gorillas in the same plantation, and was, carry
| ing light shot gun, having given my heavy
| dOube-baIrelled rde TO the boy TO carry The
| plantation extended over two hills, with deep
! hollow between, planted with sugar cane. Be
fore had crossed the hollow saw on the op.
posite slope monstrous gorilla standing erect
| and looking directly towards me. Without
| turning my face beckoned to the boy TO bring
me my rifle, bat no rife Came-the little
coward had boltcd, and had lost my chance.
The huge beast stared at me for about two
minutes, and then, without utterng any Cry,
moved of TO the shade OF the forest, running
| min, A. l,f l4N,N do aFIH