The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-05

less>than two years old, it proved very
strong aud escaped from us. But we gave
chase, and o few minutes had it fast, not,
however, before one of the men had his arm
severely bitten>by the savage little beast.
1t proved to be . young female. Unhappiiy,
she lived but ten days. after capture. She
persistently refused to eat any cooked food,
| or any thing else except the nuts and berries
which they eat in the forest.
That it is not mere matter of amusement
to encounter one of these fierce animals,
may be judged by the following: ~
Again the gorilla made an advance upon
| us. Now he was not twelve yards of.
could see plainly his ferocious face. 1t was
distorted with rage; his huge teeth were
ground against each other, so that we could
hear the sound the skin of the forehead
made his hair move up and down, and gave
a truly devilish expression to the hideous
face. Once more he gave out roar, which
seemed to shake the woods like thunder;
could really feel the earth trembling under
my feet. The gorilla, looking us in the eyes,
and beating his breast, advanced again.
-" Don't fire too soon" said Malaouen; " if
you do not kill him, he will kill you"
This time he came within eight yards of
us before he stopped. l was breathing fast
with excitement 1 watched the huge
beast. Malaouen said only Steady" as
laOuen said " Now" And before he could
utter the roar for which he was opening his
mouth, three muslket- balls were in his body.
He fell dead almost without a struggle.
He was mOnstrous beast indeed, though
not among the tallest. His height was five
feet six inches. His arms had spread of
seven feet two inches. His broad brawny
chest measured fifty inches round. The big
toe of his foot measured five inches and
three quarters in circumference. His arms
seemed like immense lunches of muscle
only and his legs and claw-like feet were
so well fitted for grabbing and holding, that
l could see how easy it was for the negroes
to believe that these animals, when they
conceal themselves in trees and watch for
prey, can seize and pull up with their feet
any liking thing, leopard, OK, or man that
passes beneath The face of this gorilla was
intensely black. The vast chest, which
proved his great power, was bare, and COW
cred with parchment-like skin. His body
was covered with gray hair. While the ami
NAL approached us in its fierce way, walk
ing on his hind legs and facingus as few an
imals dare face man, it really seemed to me
to be a horrid likeness of man.
DuChaillu and party while hunting, ON
one occasion heard the voice of n young
animal of the ape kind, but not so ferocious
as the gorilla:
We crawled through the bush us silently
dS possible, SUlll Tile DuDy ike cry.
At last, coming out to little place where
there was very little underground, we saw
something running along the ground toward
where we stood concealed. We hardly
dared to breathe, for fear of awakening the
animals suspicious. When it came nearer
running all-fours, with young one
clinging to her breast. She was eagerly
eating some berries, while with one arm
she supported her little one.
Querlaouen who had the fairest chance,
fired, and brought her down. She dropped
cried "Hew! hew Thew !" and chung to the
dead body, sucking her breasts, and burying
his head therein alarm at the report of the
gun. -
WehuYfied up in great glee to secure our
captupe. l can not tell my surprise when
1 SAW that the mshiego baby's face was as
white as that of white child. / looked at
the mother, but found her black as SCOT in
the, face. What did it mean ?-the mother
black, the child white! The little one was
about a foot in height. One of the men
threw cloth over it's head, and secured it
till we could make it fast with Il rope for
though it was quite young, it could walk. |
e-ala- eRe-s%as- OF the-bfld -Aeat4- of
which l had secured the first known speci-
men some months before.
L immediately ordered a return to the |
camp, which we reached toward evening.
The little mshiego had been all this time
separated from its dead mother, and now,
when it was put near her body, Il most
touching scene ensued. The little fellow
ran instantly to her. Touching her on the
face and breast, he saw evidently that some
great change had happened. For n few
minutes he caressed her, as though trying
to coax her back to life. Then he seemed
to lose all hope. His little eyes became very
sad, and he broke out in a long, plaintiye
wall, "Ooee ooee ooee!" which made my
heart ache for him. He looked quite forlorn,
and as though he really felt his forsaken
lot.-An in the camp were touched at his
sorrOws, and the women especially were
much moved