The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-16
WANTS TO TALK WITH GoRILLAs.
Prof. Garner. the Monkey Language
Man, Preparing Trip to Africa.

Prof Garner. the Monkey Language
Man, Preparing n Trip to Africa.
WAsYIseroS Cry, Nov. Especial Cor
respondence. Professor X. l.. Garner,
who has achieved q recent celebrity in
connection with the study OF monkey
Language. is in Washington City consult
inc with scientific men respecting an ex-
pad;tjon TO Africa, which he proposes to
make For some years past he has de-
voted attention to- the analysis of simian
speech, his purpose being To produce a
lexicon thereof. Once having established
AN understanding of few OF the simpler
words used by these arboreal cousiiis of
mankind. he believes that il will toe easy
enough TO communicate with them intel
hgeptiy. Thus they may he educated in a
limited degree. and MAY be ia ught TO be
of some service in the world.
Professor Gamers present intention is
10 learn something of the speech of eoril-
las. These great apes represent an eleva-
ted type among the anthropoids. they are
rapidly diminishing in numbers, and il is
desired TO secure a few last words from
them ut all events. before their kind be-
comes extinct. Accordingly, he proposes
To sail a few weeks hence for the west
coast of Africa, whence he will make his
way into the Gaboon country, where are
vast forests which afford home 10 the
greatest number Of goriilas today. He
will take with him 4 large iron cage, con-
structed in sections, SD as To be readily
transported.
This CAGE is not intended TO catch goril-
las in. On the contrary, il is meant 10
keep them out Professor Garner pro-
poses to occupy it himself. having set il
up in the MIDST Of the forest. 1t will be
blg enough TO provide him With room TO
sleep anu to study. The sections will be
conveyed by carriers into the hnwiiny
wilderness. where they viii be put to-
gether. Necessarily, the cage viii have 10
be nassivety bullt, in order To defeat any
efforts that may ne made by aggressive
goriiias 10 pull 1t apart.
In that region the forests at night are
kept IN an uproar by the howis of gorillas.
There are the bachelors OF the species,
which are naturally disposed to postpone
going 10 he'd until morning, while the
males that have families keep an unrest
tul guard at the feet OF the trees where
their wives repose among the branches, in
the intervals OF the sQual.ing OF the Young
sters for lack OF ipecac and soothing syrup.
Here Professor Garner will establish his
roost and try To catch by ear q few sugges
tons OF the language employed by these
Wild Creatures iii shouting To one another
lie anticipates that the study he has
already made OF monkey talk will be
help. After acquiring by guess the mean
ing OF y few words he will make use of
them by taxing part in the howis himself
by day as well as by night he will make
responses 10 the wells and cries of gorIlias
that he hears IN the woods, and he thinks
that in this wav he viii be able - attract
certain individuals, especially females.
about him. Presumably. they viii he
iayorabsy preposseSSed with SO agreeable
an anthropold as the professor. and init
macIes may result which will afford most
profitable opportunities for conversation.
lie viii not venture cut of his cage, how
ever
Thus Tar one of the most important
points in this project has not been men,