Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-12-28
A GORILLA HUNT.
How the Fans Attack Their Pow
erful and Dangerous Foe.

k1OW JuO ttIlb AObcbCh LAOA wv
erful and Dangerous Foe.
In my trading expedition into Central
Africa had at different times many ma
tive servants and through them / had
opportunities to see the natives hunt
according to the time-honored methods
of the tribes. In this respect did not
follow the practice of the ordinary trav-
eler, who conducts his hunts after his
own fashion, taking the horns or skin Of
his quarry for himself, with the glory,
of course, and leaving the carcass for
his native help, who are well satisfied
with that and few beads for recon-
pense, and are willing to take subor-
dinate position in the hunt.
One of my men was named 0shupu.
He was Fan, fine specimen of human
ity, and, like most of his race, remark
ably intelligent. In fact he was can
nibal gentleman; that is to say, al
though he, like the rest ofhis tribe, had
liking for human flesh, he never in
truded that horrible craving upon my
notice by word or deed, and from his APP
pearance and actions I should never
have imagined that it existed.
No matter whore he was, even when
near the European settlements, he never
adopted the garb of the white man, but
adhered strictly to the native dress,
which was complete when he had paint
ed his tattooed body red, hung piece of
bark cloth around his loins, and decorat-
cd his head with the scarlet feathers Of
the tauraco. His teeth were filed to
points and stained black, and his body
was hung about with charms and anu
lets.
His nation is a fierce and warlike peo-
pie, brave to fault, and magnificent in
spirit and physique. 0shupu would
sometimes get tired of riding tamely in
the slowly-moving ox-wagon, and, seiz-
ing his spear, would dart off with it and
run for several miles in advance of the
team, or perform feats of dexterity with
the weapon around the wagon for my
especial edi6cation.
Ho was forever wishing that we had
reached his country, and he would talk
to me by the hour of elephant and
gorilla hunts, until I longed to get
away with him to join hunting party
of his people. Accordingly, when we
neared the Gaboon river, it did not need
much persuasion to induce me to out
span the team for two weeks, and go
with Oshupu to his village.
Through this hamlet-as is the case
with most equatorial villages-ran one
long street. The houses were square
frames, with sides of neatly woven
waffle, and were matched with the same
material coated with mud. The cave of
the roof was carried forward some dis
lance, and supported on two posts, form
ing a rude stoop. Under this welcome
shade the village people squatted, Cos
siping and waiting for something to in
terest them.
] was that something!
We entered the village from the side,
and were in the street before our coming
was perceived. As il pulled by single
string, every native arose, and, quietly
forming a ring around me, the population
grayely inspected me. While Oshupu
was, as it were, introducing me, felt
fingers touch my clothes, my rife, and
even go into my pockets, all of which ex-
animation /, knowing the habits of these
people, pretended not to- notice. The
natives seldom steal until taught to do
so by corrosive intercourse with the
civilized whites.
When it was known that had come
to hunt the gorilla, their Joy was UNI
bounded, for, strange as it may seem,
these warlike people, like those of many
other tribes, are much afraid of this ami
NAL, and the awe with which they re-
gard him prompts them to make a
gorilla skull the principal ornament on
their fetish-huts.
After resting for two days, our hunt
ing party was formed, and we journeyed
long days march to the home of the
gorilla.
What journey it was, and how vivid
ly l remember it! There were about
thirty of us, the natives all armed with
long spears about seven feet in length
terminating in an iron head, with large
barbs at either side. These spe ars are sell
dom thrown, except at very close quar-
ters. Although painfully afraid of the go
rilla at the commencement of the hunt
the natives, as soon as their blood geti
up. throw caution to the winds, and rusf
in upon him on all sides, trusting to the
multiplicity of the assailants and theil
own agility to enable them to get away
unframed.
Each native was armed with three
spears, and was armed with my heavy
double eight-bore express rife. About
noon we halted, and rested until nearly
dawn the next morning. Then we SCI
out in single file, Oshupu leading, my
self second, and the others of the trooJ
following in the order of their rank al
successful hunters.
In many places we could scarcely
move for the dense vegetation. On al
sides of us stretched vast forest aveKaes
in which the height of the trees wal
lost in the dense overgrowth tina
stretched like leafy clouds above us, il
front the stems grew close and thick
with INTERVIEWING vines and creepers
gtunted bushes, and pendant masses O
'monley ropes" that curled like snakes
in countless thousands.
The stiffness at times could almost b
felt, and then again patch would b.