The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-18
BU CHAlllv'S LECTURES.
First Lec,ure-rhe GORILLA and lt. Habits

by his experience OF the most successful OK
plorsrs Of Equatorial Africa large aud intelligent
Audience sten,ed with interest 70 his graphic dsscr,
tions of the gorilla and its habits His valuable ana
extensive collection Of diagrams and pictures happily
illustrated his theme. And whatever may think OF
the alleged affinity OF the gbbon the ourang outang tho
chmpanzes and tho gorilla man, cannot fail to be
impressed by tho positive additions our knowledge OF
the nature and habits Of tho gorilla brethren for
which the world Is indebted TO the learned and ndefat
gable traveller. ~ Du Chsilla. His second lecture "a
Journey TO the Oaunibal Country" ia announced for
wednesday evening. February 2e and his third .iThe
Negro Tribes OF Equatorial Africa" for Friday evening
February g. Both will DO delivered at Steinway Hall
In commencing his lecture last evening M. Du
Chailu remarked that he desired the auditory TO
travel with him 10 the wids OF Africa aud bring
themselves thus face to face with the gorilla. They
wouis also study somewhat the characteristics OF the
chmpanxee the ourang outang and the gibbon and
cluds BY comparing their bony frames with the frame OF
man. First let me tell you, continued the lecturer
that the country have explored for nearly twelve
years is nothing else than immense Forest extending
north and south OF the equator from TO three de-
grees on other sde and eastward as far man ever
went. The natives know not where it ends. Miles
after miles l have travelled without hearing the
song Of Q bird. the chatterIng OF .
key, or seoiug the footstep OF a gazelie
The hummng OF insects tho falling OF leaf or the
gentle murmur OF some hidden stream came only on
my break the doadness Of this awful silence and
disturb the stiffness OF this the grandest solitude that
% sss Ss
torial regions, where wild nuts, fruits and bsrres
abound the monster finds lis food and roams at leisure
uumolesed bv man remember we'll tho 1rst time
caught glimpse Of gorilla was on my way to the
cannba country, and had reached place whero
village had been built, . dcgencrated kind Of
houses formerly stood, when MP men per-
ceived what threw us into tho greatest state Of
torn up by the roots aud lying about In fragments NY
men looked at each other in silence, and mu,tered the
word 'nguyla," watch IS the name they give TO the
gorilla. followed the traces with some of the party
who were Drawer than the rest and bavng made
that the animal Tor animals was not far OF, we
back as we had agreed TO the women and men We had
left behind. In order not to alarm the gorillas
moved the whole party little way forward, leaving all
the except I've to take OF the whO mad
lively fear OF the animal consequent the many
stories current among the tribes Of women having been
carried away by them into the woods FIX
amining our guns carefully we started IN chase.
confess l was excited in my le, for had
heard the strength and terrible ferocity OF the
beast, and was 10 moet with animal which,
since tho days of Hanno the Csrthagenan admiral had
never been seen by . white man. Judging from the
tracks IL was apparent that there were several goas
and my sensations were ndescr!babls when came Ia
sight Of the footprints Of the animal There
marked tho soft ground but the Of tho
slight We saw distinctly whore they had
all ours ana where from time TO time they had seated
thems elves to cat the cano they had borne or At last
we descended hill, and az We camo to stream at the
foot OF noticed that the water had Just BEEN dis
turbed. We crossed the stream on fallen log, and
there many evidences az The presence OF the
gorilla Our approach was very cautious. We were
divided into two parties; my African comrades Menga
Makenda and Ugols forming one, while Yesva and my
self formed the other confess was excited that
l could distinctly nea the loud pulsaons Of ruy heart,
and feared at one timo they night prove fatal We
surrounded the granite block behind which Makenda
supposed the gorilla to be hiding With guns in hand
trah RI fa ha,a. Nd hf.1
even ut midday, cast gloom over the whole scene.
looked my and that they in greater
the dense bush, lest should alarm the beasts Ma
kenda and bis companion gong TO the right and
myself and Yeaya 20 tne lslt. unortanateiy nc
saw him. Suddenly was startled by strange half
human, devish cry, and bched four goriiias running
in the thick oil the forest Wo red but hit nothing.
Then rushed In pursuit; but they knew tho woods
better than we did and could faster. | caught
glimpse OF one OF the animals atierwsrd but ntcr
vening tree spoiled my aim and did not Gre When
could pursue farther returned camp
where the women and anxiousy expecting
As they their hind;.egs these goriias look
fesruly like hairy nen-their heads down and their
like men running for their lives and ceased to wonder
that tho natives have The widest superstions concern
ing these "wd men OF the woods" Az we laid by the
oil the day were talked by the natives and
came some curious stories respecting the gorilla
These were as they arc beloved, ard not stranger
would be apt to dram them out by questions. one OF
them was, that two women Of the &oLdemos t!l5o
were walking togettOr through the Wooc when sud
denly an immense gorilla stepped into the path an
cuching or the women boro nor o in spite OF the
screams and struggles OF 10th. The other woman re-
turned 20 tho village and related tho story OF
her companion was given up as lost Great was tho sur
PRISE therefore wien, few days after size returned TO
the village She rotated thai she bad eventually escaped
from the gorilla eyes,, said or the natives, "snat
must have been man who had been changed into
gorilla" an opinion which was received with
q grunt Of approval, FOX men, these poor
natives believe are changed after death into goras
theory savoring sone7hat OF the transmgration OF
ge.sar duU cu1,.a tic
less endcavors gorilla, but at last hung doye
TO the cannlbal couutry, where remained ~ long
time. The lecturer then described his FIRST -c5-sfu
With the gorilla in this cannbal country
follows:As we were creeping along in silence which
hlied with the tremendous barking roar OF the
beast. Then tho underbrush svaycd rapidly just
anead, and presently before Us stood an immense male
gorilla When he saw our party he erected himself
naa ue ssfFa sb. ore Nearly six " feet n sn
with an immense body. huge chest aud great mus.
culsr arms intensely black face with ecsy glarpg,
large deep, gray eyes, and hesh expression Of face,
which seemed TO me like some nightmare vision--Ihus
stood before the king OF the African FORGET He WAS
not afraid OF lie stood there aud beat his breast
With his huge dss Ill i sounded Ike an immense lass
roar after roar. THIS roar OF the gorilla is the mos,
singular and awful heard In these African woods.
gdes into deep bass roll which closely resembles The
roll OF distant thunder along the sky. SO
deep IS It TIA, !, seems 70 proceed lsss from
and vast paunch he lecturer here illustrated this
roar amid laughter.l His eyes began TO fash nercer
stood the defensive and tie crest OF short hair
which stood his forehead began TO switch repeatedly
up and down, while his powerful teeth shown
he sent forth laundering roar. He reminded me Of
nothing but he!sh dream creature being Of that
hGeo order nalf man half boast. Ho advanced few
steps, then stopped 70 uttsr that hdeous heat his
chest aud finally halted when distant from about
six yards he began again ono of his roars htod
and killed him. Win groan which had something
terribly human in IL, and yet full OF bfuthness he
fell forward his lace. The body shook convuisivey
for few moments, the limbs moved about In = strug.
cling and then oil was quiet Death had done It's
work nnd had leisure to examine the huge body. Ny
men Ted in the evening flor the natvcs really eat
these ereatures carefully saving the brain for etches
OF which two kinds are made-one giving the ve9rer a
strong for the hunt and the other making him per-
fectly beNitchIng with the women; and the more
wivea they have she more they 10 be
We'd. hence IL has become invaluable with them.
NJ du Chau then proc .eded TO his adventures
other gorilla hunts. aud to describe tho appearance or
these animals nero particularly from which IL may he
Judged they are OF = most hideous appearance. He
AYERS too that no gorilla has yet been brought 20
this country, and that every pretended specimen THIS
animal exhibition is q humbug. Tho lecturer hen