The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-15
HUNTING G0RiLLAS.
An Exciting Hunting Adventure with
NATIVES in Central Afrios.
A Days Sport in the Juagle-Tho Mammoth
Monkey Fought Until the Top Of Its Head
Was Blowa 0f-Killed in the Nick Of
Tina

them l had opportunities 10 sec the
natives hunt according 10 the time
honored methods OF the tribes.
One OF my men was named Oshupu.
He was Fan, Il fine specimen OF hu-
manity. aud. like most OF his race. re-
markably Intelligent In fact he was
cannibal gentleman 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. aud from
his appearance and actions | should
never have imagined that 1t 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 | longed TO get
away with him to join hunting party
OF his people. Accordingly when we
noared the Gaboon River. IL did not
need much persuasion TO induce me 10
outspan the team for two weeks, and
go with Oshupu TO his village
We entered tho village from the
side and were In the street before our
coming was perceived. Asifpulled by
IA single string. every native arose.
and. quietly forming n ring round me,
the population gravely inspected me.
When IL was known that had come
20 hunt the gorilla. their joy WAS un-
bounded. for. strange a, IL 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. aud we jour
neyed long days march TO the home
of the gorilla. What Journey it was.
and how wildly | remember IT, There
were about thirty OF as, 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 time the undergro = tn
became less dense. and Oshupu whis-
pered 10 me that this circumstance in
dictated the presence ofwater. 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 IL
over his head, pointing To the left. |
turned my head in the direction indi-
Gated, and mt n distance OF about three
hundred feet away saw an immense
ape slowly moving through the trees
on all fours, swinging to aud fro in
manner not unlike tho plantigradc
movement OF a grizzly.
Oshupu reached his hand behind IA
n signal for me 10 move up 10 him, and
when | had done So BIO said, The
gorilla has fed. and is lazy. If no
sees us, he will run, and we shall
never catch up with him In this Jungle.
We must rest here. aud no will drum
for his mate and sleep. Then we shall
catch him"
After time. mt given signal, tho
natives spread themselves out and
making u long detour surrounded the
spot where IL was believed the gorilla
had stopped 10 rest They wero not
mistaken, for on the edge Of small
glade the big brute sat fast asleep,
with his back against tree.
1t was deputcd 10 n young chief TO
open the encounter, and after "a pause
he emerged from cover as near rs he
could got TO the gorilla lie poised
his spear in his hand In readiness TO
throw IL. and, step by step. approached
until he was within thirty feet OF the
gorilla, when suddenly the animal
rolled his head from one side 10 the
other
The ape was thoroughly aroused,
and leaning forward raised itself into
an awkward. partly erect altitude. n
the young chief had lain still, NIL
would have been we'll; but no was
DESTROYS OF showing of before mo. and
accordingly rose 10 his fect. dashed
his spear mt tho brute and made for
the cover of the thiclSet Tho spear
went through the arm OF tho gorilla,
which instantly torc tho weapon out
bodily. savagely bit tho wound. and
dashed on all fours after his assailant
with n terrible scream OF rage.
All the Fans on the opposite o; tho
clearing now boldly dashed in throw
ing their spears. or. as they got close
enough To him. thrusting them into the
brute's body. Wounds inflicted with
such weapons could not provo lmmedi-
ately fatal and could only kill the
creature by causing loss OF blood. IA
the vital power OF the gorilla il so
great that even n rifle ball seldom ar
rests at once his headlong course.
II II 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. aud the ape
backed slowly away from them. max
ing horrible grimances and gradually
working himself up into blind fury.
This state OF Affairs did not last more
than minute. and then tho ape was
Mt the edge OF the clearing. about for
n