Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-17

In my trading expeditions into Gem
trail Africa | had at different times
many native servants. and through
them had opportunities to see the
natives hunt according to the time
honored methods OF the tribes.
One on my men was named Oshupu.
He was Fan, IL fine specimen of hui
manlty, and, like most of his race, re-
markably intelligent. In fact, he was
a cannibal gentleman that is to saw.
although he. like the rest OF his tribe,
had liking for human flesh, he never
intruded that horrible craving upon
my notice by word or deed, and from
his appearance and actions should
never have imagined that it existed
lie was forever wishing that we had
reached his country, aud he would
talk to me by the hour of elephant aud
gorilla hunts, until l longed to get
away with him to join n hunting party
OF his people. Accordingly when we
neared the Gaboon River. it did not
need much persuasion to induce me 10
outspan the team for two weeks, and
go with Oshupu to his village.
We entered the village from the
side, and were in the street before our
coming was perceived. As ifpullcd by
single string, every native arose,
and, quietly forming IA ring round me.
the popu latlon gravcly inspected me.
When it was known that had come
TO hunt the gorilla. their jov WAS un-
bounded for, strange as it may seem,
these warlike people, like those OF
many other tribes, are much afraid OF
this animal.
After resting for two days. our hunt
ing party was formed, and we jour
neyed long days march to the home
of the gorilla What a journey it was
and how wildly | remember it. There
were about thirty of us, the natives all
armed with spears about seven feet in
length terminating in an iron head.
with large barbs at either side.
am an old stalker, yet my skill was
sorely tried in that labyrinth, in which
dead branches lay thickly about under
foot. After Il time the undergro 18th
became less dense, and Oshupu whis-
pered TO me that this circumstance in
Dictated the presence of water, and that
the animals coming in all directions
kept the underground more or less
trodden down.
Suddenly my guide stopped short,
and holding up his finger, crooked it
over his head, pointing to the left.
turned my head in the direction indi-
Gated, and at distance of about three
hundred feet away saw an immense
ape slowly moving through the trees
on all tours, swinging to and fro in Il
manner not unlike the pantigrade
movement of a grizzly.
Oshupu reached his hand behind as
a signal for me to move up to him, and
when | had done so. he said, The
gorilla has fed. and is lazy. If he
sees us, he will run, and we shat
never catch up with him in this tangle
We must rest here. and he will drum
for his mate and sleep. Then we shall
catch him"
After time, at a given signal. the
natives spread themselves out, and
making long detour, surrounded the
spot whore it was believed the gorilla
had stopped to rest. They were not
mistaken, for on the edge of "a small
glade the big brute sat fast asleep.
with his back against tree.
1t was deputed to a young chief to
open the encounter, and after u pause
he emerged from cover as near as he
could get to the gorilla He poised
his spear In his hand in readiness 10
throw it, and, step by step, approached
until he was within thirty feet of the
gorilla, when suddenly the animal
rolled his head from one side to tho
other
The ape was thoroughly aroused,
and leaning forward raised itself into
an awkward, partly erect attitude. If
the young chief had lain still, all
would have been well; but he was
DESTROYS of showing off before me, and
accordingly rose to his feet, dashed
his spear at the brute and made for
the cover of the thicket The spear
went through the arm of the gorilla,
which instantly tore the weapon out
bodily, savagely bit the wound, and
dashed on all tours after his assailant,
with a terrible scream of rage
All the Fans on the opposite OF the
clearing now boldly dashed in, throw
ing their spears, or, as they got close
enough to him. thrusting them into the
prutes body, Wounds inflicted with
such weapons could not prove immedi-
ately fatal, and could only kill the
creature by causing loss OF blood, ms
the vital power of the gorilla is so
great that even rifle ball seldom ar-
rests at once his headlong course.
If it had not. been for the danger,
this spectacle of the contest between
the Fans and the ape would have been
amusing, as the men threw spears,
and crouched or lodged. and the ape
backed slowly away from them. max
ing horrible grimances ana gradually
working himself up into a blind fury.
This state OF affairs did not last more
than minute, and then the ape was
at the edge of the clearing, about for.
ty feet from where | stood. Here an
other volley of spears met him, and
after standing amazed for second, he
rushed headlong ut the first assailant,
seized him by the leg, and before II
hand could be raised. he swung him
around his head bringing the poor
fellows skull in contact with tree
trunk and cracked it like nut.
1t was terrible sight, but it was
done before had the power to prevent
it. | raised my rife, and quick as
thought sent two bullets ploughing
through the apes head, tearing the
top of the skull clean off He reeled
and fell, rose again, clenched at the
mass of vines. and rolled over, still
convulsively twitching and tearing al
the ,1pdarutnwth whila nSh,,,,, ,y,,t