Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-05-15
WITH THE GORILLAS.
PROFESSOR GARNER STARTS OUT
AGAIN TO STUDY MONKEYS

Darkest Africa-wnI Return Some Tim
;. Next Spring.
/ am now on the edge of civilization
! about to plunge into the depths of th,
African forest. These are the last words
shall send before disappear. Where
and when l shall come out l do not
know.
am now writing at Ambrizette, An
COLA, and it is the 10th Of October. 1t is
unlikely that anything will be heard
from me for come months. 1t ia, of
course, possible that ] may never again
reach civilization, and that this manu-
script will be my last.
But If my journey is as successful as
l expect 1t to be it will be surprising in
its results and rapid in execution. / in
tend now to strike out for the Bolumbo
country and into the interior of darkest
| Africa
Here shall again resume my expert
ments with the native gorillas and
| hope to complete the alphabet of the ma
tive language of the ape, which / was
compelled to abandon during my frs,
visit here year ago
hope to cross Esyria to the Rembo
Nkani and via Fernan Vaz lake into the
Lake Izanga country, where I shall
make for the coast. No time can be
stated for this hazardous journey, as
most of it is afoot or by canoe. But 1 |
hope to BIO back in New York early ia |
the new year, or, at any rate, before the |
summer is we'll advanced.
am well equipped for this journey
and for my experiments.
My previous experience in Africa will
be Of the utmost value.
My knowledge of the country and Of
the native languages has already beep
of the greatest assistance.
Standing here ON the brink where civ
ilization and barbarism meet, l am con-
fident that the journey which is before
me will bring them both closer together.
I am bringing some of the finest me-
ohanical productions Of civilization into
the heart of the jungle. shall bring
out of the primeval forest specimens
bearing on anthropology and testimony
to the antiquity Of language that will
be absolutely new.
There are things in this African jun
gle which comes down here to whereT
stand that bear directly ON the history
of our race and speech. Here are found
races that have not advanced in 10, 900
years, races that seem indeed never to
have advanced and to occupy today
lower place in the social scale than
many animals.
/ do not doubt that there arc members
If the monkey family possessing a
higher intelligence and greater fueucy
II language than many natives Of Afri-
"a, whom they so closely resemble.
AVE known of tho same words being
lsed to express the same things in the
anguage of both. These are some Of the
acts my present journey will throw
light upon.
/ am heading now for the greatest
monkey country il the world, the great
riginal breeding place of our race, as
1me believe. Hero are to be found
aces of men the like of which can be
ZEN nowhere else on earth.
Here are to DO found men SO peculiar
lat hundreds Of thousands, if not mil
ons, of years must have elapsed since
ley branched Off from the rest of the
eat human family. They are today
Their the sole remaining specimens Of
imeyal man or men who have slowly
: interbreeding developed unique lido --
ncrasies which differentiate them
ON all others.
In this great African Jungle which
Q light of civilization has never pene-
ited, whore time has stood still,
lich is today identical with what ID
As 10, 900 years ago, an animal civili-
tion has sprung up that has advanced
ECKER than the civilization of its hui
Nj inhabitants. The skull of monkeys
this great heart of Africa has grown
tier than the skull Of men.
Here are found the largest monkeys
4 the smallest men. Not far from
Iere am sitting tonight writing to
Q Sunday World the chimpanzees have
isisal instruments around which they
d dance, while there are tribes of
ages so low and brutal as never to X
70 invented n musical instrument
Monkey tribes, gorilla tribes and
mpanzee tribes are organized They
70 leaders and governors. They seem
have a rude system of government Of
forest
Zach appears to have special coun-
Of its own into which the others $50
by penetrate. They have mysterious
Is, periodical conventions and regular
es for joyful gatherings
his is the greatest place for scientific
uiry ON earth--first, because it is the
'st known field of human occupancy,
secondly. because it has been who'll