The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-06-19
PAUL DU CHAlLLU.
A Chapter OF Mishaps I'm the Life OF this
Famous orfI1a-Hunter.

n
Famous GoriIla-Hunter.
This adventurer, who mas captivatet
both old and young boys by his ex
citing s'Stories of Life in the GoriIl,
Country" and "Wild Life in Jungle,
had some personal experiences while il
the Ashaneo Land that he has no
chosen to put upon paper. A story ha'
been told me by returned missionary
who was for many years at Gahoon OF
the African Coast, and proved to be
friend in need to the venturesom,
French-Amefican travellers It show
that strong will and a stout heart viii
buoy one up in the midst of difficulties
and repeats the old saying that ''Trutf
is stranger than Action"
Several years ago, Paul Pu Chaillu
then quite young man, engaged in hit
first, and probably his last commercial
venture. He borrowed some $15, OOO
freighted schooner with merchandise,
and started for the African Coast, think.
ing that would be a favorable place fol
specializing. He undoubtedly expected
to speculate in different manner from
that in which he was afterward so sue
cessful. Arriving at that part of the
coast of Upper Guinea that Is under the
control of the French, he would not
land on account of the shoals, and so
was obliged to use lighters. These
were very expensive, and, when he
gained the port, the government said
that he must pay for them. Du Chaillu
declared that he would not, and insisted
that it was the business of the French
to bear the expense of landing the
merchandise that, was bound for their
ports. As he would not yield, all the
goods that he had brought to shore
were seized.
Du Chaillu then hired small boat,
hlled it with what was left of his cargo,
started it for Gaboon, q port several
hundred miles further south. He him.
self took his most valuable possessions,
and went by steamer, but the steamer
was delayed for some reason or other !;
the vessel, meanwhile, stayed outside
the harbor waiting for it to come-then,
becoming impatient, sailed away, and
was never heard of more.
Thus disappeared the cargo that was
to have brought Paul Du Chaillu a
fortune. He, however, found home
with the Rev. Mr.. Walker, missionary
of the American board. But, before
many weeks, there came an order from
the French Government for his arrest.
An officer told Mr.. Walker privately
that he must send his guest away, or he
would be obliged to seize him. Mr..
Walker accordingly sent him to some
friendly natives in the interior there
he spent his time in hunting excursions
and in collecting valuable specimens
But before long he was warned again.
This time Mr.. Walker determined to
get him out of the clutches of the
French law by sending him to a small
island lying off the coast under Spanish
authority. He succeeded in getting
him back to Gaboon without detection,
and, late one evening, Paul Du Chaillu
put himself and all his worldly effects
into light canoe manned by half q
dozen of the natives. Mr.. Walker gave
them full directions as to the voyage,
and charged them to keep off the shoals.
Early the next morning the good mis-
was awakened by one of the
self-same darkeys, who told him that
they had been swamped, totally ship
and that Du Chaillu was
stranded some where on the beach.
Mr.. Walker went in search of him, and
found him several miles up the coast,
arrayed In the costume of his favorite
gorilla. A sorry plight. surely-naked,
hungry ana pennlless, under arrest from
the French Government, and ship
wrecked on the unknown shore of
country. Mr.. Walker fur
nished him with clothes, and started
him off again, this time successfully.
ae spent some time on the island, and
made many valuable collections; but
ust as they were completed, and he
vas thinking of returning to this
the mission house in which his
'pecimens were stored was burned, and
every thing was lost.
Not long after this, the order for his
'rrest was revoked, and he went back
20 the French station satisfied for q
lime, probably with life on the African
Coast.