The Forrest City times., 1890-01-11
HUNTING GORILLAS.
An Exciting Hunting Adventure with
 Natives in Central Africa.
A Days Sport h the Jungls-Ths Mammoth
 Monkey Fought Until the Top of Its Head
 Was Blown 0f-Killed in the Nick of

TimA
 In my trading expeditions into Gen. tral Africa I had at different times many native servants. and through them l had opportunities to see the natives hunt according to the time honored methods of the tribes.
 One of my men was named Oshupu. He was Fan, fine specimen Of hu- manity, and. like most of his race. re- markedly intelligent In fact, he was cannibal gentleman 1; that is to say, 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 1 should never have imagined that it existed.
 He was forever wishing that we had reached his country, and he would talk to me by the hour of elephant and gorilla hunts, until l 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 outspan the team for two weeks, and ko "iti oShbPt to
 We entered the village from the side. and were in the street before our coming was perceived. As ifpulled by a single string, every native arose, and, quietly forming a ring round ms, the population gravely inspected me,
 When it was known that l had come to hunt the gorilla, their joy 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 journey it was, and how vividly 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 a time the undergro wth became less dense. and Oshupu whis- pered to me that this circumstance in- dicated the presence Of water, and that tuo tuiiidiS tpLuiue III ali QiTttlipUS kept the undergrowth more or less trodden down.
 Suddenly my guide stopped short. and holding up his finger. crooked 1t over his head, pointing to the left I turned my head in the direction iudi- cated, and at distance of about three hundred feet away saw an immense ape slowly moving through the trees on all fours. swinging to and fro in q manner not unlike tho pantigrado movement of n grizzly.
 Oshupu reached his hand behind as a signal for me to move up to him. and when 1 had done so. he said, "The gorilla has fed. and is lazy. If he sees us. he will run, and We shall 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 where 1t was believed the gorilla had stopped 10 rest They were not mistaken, for on the edge Of a small glade the big brute sat fast asleep, W Wtth iiiS pstNh II lNGts
 It was deputed 10 n young chief to open the encounter. and after 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 tho animal rolled his head from one side to the 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 desirous of showing of before me and accordingly roso to his feet dashed his spear at tho brute and made for the cover of the thickot The spear went through the arm of the gorilla, which instantly tore the weapon out bodily. savagely bit the wound, and dashed on all fours after his assailant with terrible scream of rage.
 All the Fans on the opposite of the clearing now boldly dashed in. throw ing their spears, or. us they got close enough to him. thrusting them into the brutes body. Wounds inflicted with such weapons could not prove immedl- ately fatal. and could only kill the creature by causing loss of blood. as the vital power of tho gorilla is so great that even rife ball seldom ar rests at once his headloug course.
 If it had not been for tho danger. this spectacle of the contest between the Fans and the ape would have been amusing, as the men threw spears. and crouched or dodged. and the ape backed slowly away from them, mak- ing horrible grimances and gradually working himself up into 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 l stood. Here an- other volley of spears met him, aud after standing amazed for second. he rushed headlong at the first assailaut. seized him by the leg. and before a hand could be raised, he swung him around his head, bringing the poor fellows skull in contact with n tree trunk and cracked it like nut.
 It was terrible sight but 1t was done before l had the power to prevent it l raised my rifle. and quick as thought sent two bullets ploughing through the apes head. tearing the top of the skull clean otf He reeled and fell. rose again. clenched ut the mass of vines. and rolled over. still convulsively twitchiug and tearing at the undergrowth, while Oshupu got his foot clear. and coming to me plae- cd my hand on his head in token that his life henceforth belonged to me.
 There the brute lay. strange sight and one of which the stuffed gorilla skins of the natural history collections can give but faint idea. The face was hideois {; the breadth of chest wes grand. the arms and hands were massive but the hugo trunk dwindled into pair Of logs. thin. bent and decrepit as those of an old woman.
 l wished to preserve the skin. but before could prevent their action, the natives had througe.i around the