Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-11-24
in AFRICAN JUNGLES.
by EDWARD :. ELLIS.

the depths of the African Jungle, cs-
peclally when he knows the gorilla to
possess prodigious strength and actiy-
ity, and to he absolutely uutemable in
his ferocitv.
The gorilla, when fuli grown, hacks
but two or three inches of six feet in
height. The skin is of coal-black col
or. This, however, makes itself np=
parent only on the face, chest, and
palms of the hands, which are uncov-
cred ly the iron-gray hair, two
inches long, which envelopes the rest
of the body The hair is quite dark on
the arms, and, rather oddly, it grows
upward on the forearm and downward
on the main arm.
A look straight in the face will
startle any one. The small, restless
piercing eyes glitter viciously from be-
meath the heavy frontal ridge; the
enormous mouth, the thin, black lipa.
without any red on their edges the
formidable double row of fangs, the
crimsoned-lined mouth, the almost hui
maa ears, the short, why hair covering
his head, the flat crown, and the iron
jaws posses ing incredible strength.
These arc some of the characteristics.
which, breaking suddenly on the bray
est man, are enough to cause him to
recoil in fright.
The resemblance of the gorilla to us
human beings Is remarkable, though
much less than that OF the chimpanzee,
which looks indeed as if it We're the
famed connecting link"
Il.
that of a man more than that of an ape.
1t has projecting nore bone, though
the organ itself is very flat and repul-
siye in shape. It's chest and shoulders
are immensely broad; it has no neck,
and the abdomen is simply tremendous.
The arms reach to the knees. and
possess II strength almost incredible.
Tho legs are short, without any calf,
the knees are bent at the joints and the
back has forward stoop. 1t is o
singular fact, that when running on all
tours, the hind feet of the gorilla leave
no trace of their contact with the
ground Only the ball of the foot and
the thumb, answering to our great toe,
seem to touch.
Tho hand of the male gorilla is
immense. The fingers are short and
thick. the middle one at the first Joint
sometimes being more than two inches
in diameter. The foot resembles n
huge hand, the middle toe being longer
than the others Awkward and I'M
couth as is this extraordinary creature,
its strength and activity are almost
marvellous
The home of the gorilla is Ii the
gloomiest depths cf the African jun
giles. Here are found other formidable
animals, so that the savage fellow
needs to possess great power to defend
himself from their attacks, The male
seems to be absolutely without fear.
He never runs before the approach of
man, and seems to feel special fe-
roc.ty toward the native African, He
is always ready for fight, and is not
afraid of the lion. elephant, OF any
quadruped that may cross his path.
My friend, Jarvis Maggiore, one of
the most famous of English sports.
men, penetrated the gorilla country
with two friends, as fond of wild hunt.
ing rs he. He had shot the lion in the
land of the Bushman and Hottentot,
and had come within hair of being
torn to shreds by royal Bengal tiger
in the depths of Hindostan.
Beng man of means, Maggiore de
MED himself 10 comfort or convenience
thai money could procure. His com
panions We're equally fortunate il that
respect. they were we'll mounted when
necessary, hal the best OF dogs and
weapons, and procured the most ex,
perienced and trustworthy guides in
whatever section they visited.
The three hunters were accompanied
by dusky native, who had led other
parties into the country, and who bore
the rather curious name of ZigZug;
this had probably been given him by
some Englishman, and he had proudly
adopted it in preference to his own.
Zigzag was an active. athletic fellow,
Who also carried an excellent gun, and
held the gorilla i'll more dread than
any other inhabitant of the jungles. 1t
was not until he was promised very
pany the trio OF Englishmen into the
gorilla country. Three entire days
were passed without catching the first
glimpse of the terrible creature. They
hun.ed with the greatest care, and
again and again detected the tracks OF
the gorilla, which are too peculiar to
be mistaken; more than once they were
sure they We're Immediately upon him,
but they were continually disappointed,
until the party began to feel something
like disgust over the repeated failure
to find the game which had brought
them so far inland, Finally, one morn
ing, when they were on the point Of
leaving camp, Maggiore said:
"If we don't get sight of one of our
handsome relatives to-day, l shall
favor withdrawal from the country
altog ether"
II think it will be better for us to
separate, replied his companion; st
must be the gorillas hear us and keep
out of the way"
"But from what Du Chaillu and 9th
ers, who are acquainted with the habits
of the animals, say, the male does not
give the road to man or beast"
"Not when disturbed; but we haven't
had much success in running across