Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-05-28
A GORILLA HUNT.
How the Fans Attack Thor Pow.
erful and Dangerous Foe.

Africa had at different times many pa-
tive servants, and through them had
opportunities TO see the natives hunt
according 10 tho time-honored methods
OF the tribes In this respect did not
follow tho practice OF the ordinary trav-
eler, who conducts his hunts after hts
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 we'll satisfied
with that and few beads for recon-
pense, and are willing TO take a subor-
dinate position In the hunt.
One Of my men was named Oshupu.
He was n Fan, a fine specimen Of human
ity. and. like most Of his race, remark
ably intelligent. In fact he was can
nibal gentleman; that IL TO say, al
though he, like the rest Of his tribe, had
q 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 ii 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 tattoocd 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 10
points and stained black, and his body
was hung about with charms and anu
lets.
10 nd N
pie, brave TO fault, and magnificent in
spirit and physique. oshupu would
sometimes get tired of riding tamely in
the owly-moving ox-wagon, and, seiz-
ing HIS spear. would dart Oft with 1t and
run for several miles in advance of the
team, or perform feats Of dexterity with
tho weapon around the wagon for my
especial edification.
He was forever wishing that we had
reached his country, and he would talk
to mo by the hour of elephant and
gorilla hunts, until longed to get
away with him to join hunting party
of his people. Accordingly, when we
nearcd the Gaboon river, il did not need
much persuasion TO induce me TO out
span the team for two weeks, and go
With DShupu 10 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
tho roof was carried forward some dis
lance, and supported on two posts, form
ing rude stoop Under this welcome
shade the village people squattcd, Cos
siping and waiting for something TO in
terest them.
was that something!
We entered tho village from the side,
and were in the street before our coming
was perceived. As II pulled by single
string, every native arose, and, quietly
forming airing around me, the population
gravely inspected me. While Oshupu
was, ms II 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 10 do
30 by corrosive intercourse with the
civilized whites.
When il was known that had come
10 hunt the gorilla, their Joy was I'M
bounded, for, strange as II 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 n
gorilla skull the principal ornament on
their fetish-huts.
After resting for two days, our hunt
ing party was formed, and we jourDeyed
o long days march TO tho home OF the
gorilla.
What journey it was, and how vivid
ly ] remember IL! There were about
thirty of us, the natives all armed with
long spears about seven feet in length,
terminating i< an iron head, with large
barbs at either side. These spears are sell
dom thrown, except at very close quar-
tiers. Although painfully afraid OF the GO
rilla Mt the commencement of the hunt,
| the natives, as soon as their blood gets
up, throw caution TO the winds. and rush
in upon him on all sides, trusting to tho
multiplicity OF the assailants and their
own agility to enable them to get away
unframed.
Each native was armed with three
spears, and ] was armed with my heavy
double cight-bore express rife. About
noon we halted, and rested until nearly
dawn the next morning. Then we set
out in single file. Oshupu leading, my
self second, and the others Of the troop
following in the order OF their rank as
successful hunters.
In many places we could scarcely
move for the dense vegetation. On all
sides of us stretched vast forest avenues.
in which the height OF the trees was
lost in the dense overgrowth that
stretched like leafy clouds above us, in
| front the stems grew close and thick,
with INTERVIEWING vines and creepers,
stuntcd bushes. and pendant masses Of
monkey ropes" that curlcd like snakes
in countless thousands.
The stiffness at times could almost be
felt. and then again n. patch would be
struck where birds with harsh voices
peopled the trees, but could not he
seen, or the chirp OF grasshopper, the
sharp hiss OF serpent, the shrill sound
OF locust rose from the matted grass.
No other sounds could be distinguished,
except the chatter Of a stray monkey, or
the boot of an owl
We seemed TO entcr into region OF
semi-darkness, where the light was Of a
faint greenish black. I could feel the
pupils Of my eyes dilatc in an effort to
condense the faint light filtered from
above through the green, tightly-drawn
curtain overhead, so that I might dis
tinguish the tree-trunks from Oshupu,
for In that strange light every thing