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Title: Gorillas & Chimpanzees
Author: Garner, R. L.
Language: English
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Gorillas & Chimpanzees
[Illustration: R. L. Garner.]
Gorillas & Chimpanzees
By
R. L. Garner
_Illustrated_
London
Osgood, McIlvaine & Co.
45 Albemarle Street, W.
1896
_To_
MY FAITHFUL AND GENEROUS FRIEND
MR. ADOLPH STROHM
WHO HAS GIVEN ME
LIBERAL AID AND UNSWERVING ENCOURAGEMENT
AND TO MY KIND AND STEADFAST FRIEND
MR. JAMES A. DEEMIN
WITH WHOM I SHARED SOME OF THE HARDSHIPS OF TRAVEL
AND A FEW OF THE JOYS OF THE HUNT
THIS VOLUME IS
GRATEFULLY DEDICATED BY
ITS AUTHOR
PREFACE
The present work is the natural product of some years devoted to a
study of the speech and habits of monkeys. It has led up to the special
study of the great apes. The matter contained herein is chiefly a
record of the facts tabulated during recent years in that field of
research.
The aim in view is to convey to the casual reader a more correct idea
than now prevails concerning the physical, mental, and social habits of
these apes.
The favourable conditions under which the writer has been placed, in
the study of these animals in the freedom of their native jungle, have
not hitherto been enjoyed by any other student of Nature.
A careful aim to avoid all technical terms and scientific phraseology
has been adhered to, and the subject treated in a simple style. Tedious
details are relieved by an ample supply of anecdotes taken from the
writer's own observations, and most of them are the acts of his own
pets or of apes in a wild state. The author has refrained from rash
deductions and abstruse theories, but has sought to place the animals
here treated in their true light, believing that to dignify the apes is
not to degrade man, but to exalt him even more.
It is hoped that a more perfect knowledge of these animals may bring
man into closer fellowship and deeper sympathy with Nature, and cause
him to realise that all creatures think and feel in some degree,
however small.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
PREFACE vii
I. MAN AND APE COMPARED 1
II. CAGED IN AN AFRICAN JUNGLE 14
III. DAILY LIFE AND SCENES IN THE JUNGLE 22
IV. THE CHIMPANZEE 36
V. PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND MENTAL QUALITIES 46
VI. THE SPEECH OF CHIMPANZEES 66
VII. THE CAPTURE AND CHARACTER OF MOSES 76
VIII. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MOSES 92
IX. AARON 102
X. AARON AND ELISHEBA 116
XI. THE DEATH OF AARON AND ELISHEBA 136
XII. OTHER CHIMPANZEES 144
XIII. OTHER KULU-KAMBAS 176
XIV. GORILLAS 188
XV. HABITS OF THE GORILLA 213
XVI. OTHELLO AND OTHER GORILLAS 234
XVII. OTHER APES 252
XVIII. THE TREATMENT OF APES IN CAPTIVITY 262
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
_Page_
_Portrait of R. L. Garner_ _Frontispiece_
_Waiting and Watching in the Cage_ _To face_ 16
_Starting for a Stroll_ " 22
_Preparing for the Night_ " 30
_In the Jungle_ " 42
_A Stroll in the Jungle_ " 54
_The Edge of the Jungle_ " 62
_Trading Station in the Interior_ " 102
_Plain and Edge of the Forest_ " 108
_A Native Canoe_ " 118
_Aaron and Elisheba_ " 132
_Native Village at Moile--Interior of Nyanza_ " 146
_Consul II. Riding a Tricycle_ " 164
_Consul II. In Full Dress_ " 170
_Native Village at Glass Gaboon_ " 180
_Natives Skinning a Gorilla_ " 190
_Skulls of Gorillas--Front and Side Views_ 199-202
_Young Gorilla Walking_ _To face_ 208
_Native Carrier Boy_ " 222
_Native Women of the Interior_ " 230
GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES
CHAPTER I
MAN AND APE COMPARED
Monkeys have always been a subject of idle interest to old and young;
but they have usually served to amuse the masses more than to instruct
them, until within recent years.
Now that science has brought them within the field of careful research,
and made them an object of serious study, it has invested them with a
certain dignity in the esteem of mankind, and imparted to them a new
aspect among animals.
There is no other creature that so charms and fascinates the beholder
as do these little effigies of the human race. The simple and the wise
are alike impressed with their human look and manner; children and
patriarchs with equal delight watch them with surprise; but now that
the search-light of science is being thrown into every nook and crevice
of nature, human interest in them is multiplied many fold, while the
savants of all civilised lands are struggling with the problem of
their possible relationship to man.
Pursuant to the desire of learning as much as possible about their
natural habits, faculties, and resources, they are being studied from
every available point of view, and every characteristic compared in
detail to the corresponding one in man. Hence, in order to appreciate
more fully the value of the lessons to be drawn from the contents of
this volume, we must know the relative planes in the scale of nature
that man and monkeys occupy, wherefore we shall begin our task by
comparing them in a general way; but as the scope of this work is
restricted mainly to the great apes, the comparison will likewise be
confined to that subject, except in so far as to define the relations
of man and ape to monkeys.
Since monkeys differ among themselves so widely, it is evident that
all of them cannot in the same degree resemble man. And as the degree
of interest in them as a subject of comparative study is approximately
measured by the degree of their likeness to man, it is apparent that
all cannot be regarded as of equal interest. But since each forms an
integral part of the scale of nature, they are of equal importance in
tracing out the continuity of the order to which they belong.
The vast family of simians has perhaps the widest range of types of
any single family of mammals. Beginning with the great apes, which so
closely resemble man in size, form and structure, they descend by
degrees along the scale till they end in the little marmosets, which
are almost on the level of rodents. But the descent is so gradual
that it is difficult to draw a sharp line of demarcation at any point
between the two extremes. There is, however, now an effort being made
to separate this family into smaller groups, but the lines between them
must be dim and wavering, and the literature of the past has a tendency
to retard the effort.
We shall not digress from the trend of our subject, however, at this
time, to discuss the problems with which zoology may have to contend in
the future, but will accept the current system and proceed.
All the varied types that belong to the simian family are, in the
common order of speech, known as _monkeys_, but the term thus used is
so broad in its meaning as to include all the forms of that vast group,
wherefore it is vague and obscure, for some of these resemble man more
than they resemble each other. The name should only be applied to those
having tails and short faces, but there is a small group, which have
no tails at all, that are properly known as _apes_. While they are
all simians, they are not all monkeys. It is with this small group,
without tails, that we propose chiefly to deal. We select them because
of their likeness to man, and having noted the similitude, the result
may be compared with other types of the same order. There are only four
of these apes, but as a whole they resemble man in so many essential
details that they are called "anthropoid," or "man-like apes." They
differ from each other in certain respects, almost as much as any one
of them differs from man. The four apes alluded to, are the chimpanzee,
the gorilla, the orang and the gibbon.
As the skeleton is the framework of the physical structure, it will
serve as the basis upon which to build up the comparison, and as the
chimpanzee is the nearest approach to man, we select him as the highest
type of the simian, and use him as the standard.
The skeleton of the chimpanzee may be said to be exactly the same as
that of man, but the assertion must be qualified by a few facts which
are of minor importance, but since they are facts we cannot ignore them.
The general plan, purpose and principle are the same in each. There is
no part of the one that is not duplicated in the other, and there is no
function discharged by any part of the one that is not discharged by
the like part of the other. The chief point in which they differ is in
the structure of one bone.
Near the base of the spinal column is a certain bone called the
_sacrum_. It is a constituent part of the column, but in its singular
form and structure somewhat differs from the corresponding bone in man.
The general outline of this bone in the plane of the hips is that of an
isosceles triangle. It fits in between the two large bones that spread
out towards the hips, and articulate with the thighbones.
[Illustration: PELVIS OF CHIMPANZEE
A Sacrum.
B Fourth lumbar vertebra.
C Coccyx.
D Ilium or hip-bone.
E Femur or thigh-bone.
]
About half-way from the centre to the edge, along each side, is a
row of four round holes. Across the surface of the bone is a dim
transverse line between each pair of holes, from which it appears that
five smaller sections of the column have anchylosed or grown into each
other to form the _sacrum_, and the holes coincide with the open spaces
between the lateral processes of the other bones of the column above.
In the chimpanzee, this bone has the same general form as in man, but
instead of four holes in each row it has five, connected by transverse
lines in the same way, indicating that six of the segments are united
instead of five; but to compensate for this the ape has one vertebra
less in the section of the column just above it, in that portion called
the _lumbar_. In it man has five, while the ape has but four. But
counting the whole number of bones in the spinal column, and regarding
each segment of the _sacrum_ as a distinct bone, which to all intents
it is, the sum of the bones in each column is exactly the same.
Although this appears to be a fixed and constant character, it cannot
be esteemed as a matter of great importance, since the same thing has
been known to occur in the human skeleton, and the reverse has been
known in some specimens of the apes, but has never been observed in the
chimpanzee. In this respect he appears to be more constant than man so
far as we know at present.
As the greatest strains of the spinal column are laid upon that part in
which the _sacrum_ is located, there is a tendency for these segments
to unite in order to meet the demand, and since there is the least
flexure in that part, the cartilages that lie between them ossify and
become rigid. The erect posture of man allows more room in the loins
for the fifth vertebra to move, and thus it is prevented from uniting
with the segment below it, which is held firmly in place by the two
large bones mentioned, while the crouching habit of the ape presses
that vertebra firmly against the other, confining it between the two
large bones and thus reducing its movement, wherefore the same result
follows as with the other sections below.
Another bone that may be said to differ in structure is that known as
the _sternum_ or breastbone; it is the thin, soft bone to which the
ribs are joined in the front of the body. In the young of both man and
ape it is a mere cartilage which slowly ossifies from the top downward.
The process appears to begin at different centres, the largest nucleus
being at the top. There appear to be five of these centres. The bone
never becomes quite hard in either man or ape, but always remains
somewhat porous, and even in advanced age the outline of the lower part
is not defined by a smooth, sharp line, but is irregular in contour and
merges or blends into the cartilages that hold the ribs in place.
In man, this bone in maturity is usually found in two segments, while
in the ape it varies. In some specimens it is the same as in man, while
in others it is found to be in four or five segments. But the _sternum_
in each is always regarded as one bone, and is developed from one
continuous cartilage. The separate parts are never considered distinct
bones. The reason that it is found in separate sections in the ape is
doubtless due to the stooping habit of the animal, by which the bone is
constantly flexed and alternately straightened. In man this bone varies
to a great extent.
With these trifling exceptions in point of structures alone, the
skeletons of man and ape may be truly said to be exact counterparts
of each other, having the same number of bones, of the same general
type arranged in the same order and articulated in the same manner.
The corresponding bone in each is the same in design and purpose. The
frame of the ape is much more massive in its proportions than that of
man, but while this is true of some kinds of ape the reverse is true of
others. The average height of the adult chimpanzee is about 63 inches.
In man the _sacrum_ is more curved in the plane of the hips than it is
in the ape, while the bones of the digits in man are straighter. The
arms of man are shorter than the legs, while in the ape these features
are reversed.
In the cranial types, it is readily seen that the skull of man is
nearly round and the face is vertical, while the skull of the ape is
elongated and the face receding. These facts deserve more notice than
the mere mention of their being so.
In the whole scheme of nature certain laws obtain in the projection of
skulls. The angle between the plane of the face and the spinal axis is
co-ordinate to the angle between the spinal axis and the perpendicular.
To be more exact, the spine of a snake is in a horizontal line, and the
face occupies a plane of the same kind. At the other end of the scale
is man, whose spine is in a vertical line, and his face occupies a
like plane. Between these two extremes are types which tend in various
degrees, from the lower to the higher form, and just in proportion as
the spinal axis approaches a vertical line from one side, the plane of
the face approaches it from the other.
In accord with this fact it will be observed that the foramen or
hole in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes is
adjusted closer and closer to the centre of the base of the skull as
the spine becomes erect. In man, whose spinal column is erect, the
hole is in the centre of the base; in the reptile, whose spine is
horizontal, the hole is at the extreme end of the base. In the ape the
spinal axis is at an angle with the vertical line, and the plane of the
face conforms to a similar one. In keeping with this law it will be
seen in all animals that just in the same degree as the angles widen,
the foramen is removed from the centre of the base towards the occiput.
It may be noted here, however, that the facial angle is never exactly
the same as the spinal angle. The facial plane of the reptile is not
quite horizontal, nor that of man quite vertical, but the ratios of
angularity are constant. Even the habit of rearing modifies to some
extent this character, but it is only the normal pose of the animal
that determines the exact limit of it.
In keeping with these facts it will be observed that as the angle
between the chin and the spine widens, the lower jaws project, and the
chin recedes or flattens, and in a like degree the voice is modified.
The chin of man forms a right angle, but in the reptile it is quite
lost. In the former the vocal powers are superior to that of all other
animals, but as we descend the scale they are reduced in scope and
degraded in quality, until in the lowest reptiles they become a mere
hiss or squeak.
By a careful study of the voices together with the skulls of animals,
it is found that the gnathic index can be relied upon as a vocal index.
The ape has the smallest angle between the spinal axis and the facial
plane, and has the greatest vocal range and purest voice of any other
animal below man. Among the apes the gibbon has the smallest angle, and
he also has the best vocal qualities of any other ape.
The contour of the skull in all parts conforms to the angle of its
projection from the spinal axis. It is depressed and elongated in
proportion as the angle increases: the brain cavity is narrowed in a
like proportion to its length, and the brain, of course, is modified in
the same manner.
The brain of the ape resembles that organ in man as closely as his
skeleton resembles man's. It has the same lobes, convolutions, and
centres. The texture is slightly coarser. The small details are less
intricate and their lines somewhat less distinct. But these also differ
to a certain extent in different men. In man and apes the same nerves
are present and connect the same organs of sensation, volition and
motion. In all essential points they are one.
These leading facts are deemed sufficient to show the physical likeness
of apes to man, and we shall refrain from the minute details that would
only be of interest to the specialist. The purpose is to acquaint the
general reader with the leading facts.
Regarding man purely in the light of an animal, it is evident that
he is, physically, very closely allied to the chimpanzee, and that
both are integral parts of one great scheme of life, designed by the
same author, fashioned after the same model, projected upon the same
plan, and amenable to the same system of vital economy. Viewing him in
the light of his physical nature, so far it is found that he does not
materially differ from other animals in the structure of his skeleton
and certain concomitants.
In the vital organs of the two there is perhaps still greater unity
of structure, and equal unity of function in all essential details.
The difference of structure is only to the extent of making the organ
conform to the general plan of the animal, and the difference of
function is only one of degree. Since the same characters vary quite
as much among men without changing their identity as such, it cannot
be sufficient ground to widen the hiatus between man and ape; in fact,
the physical likeness of the two grows stronger as the comparison is
extended into more minute and scrutinising details. To the casual
observer the general resemblance is apparent, but to the student the
unity becomes evident.
In addition to the facts we have cited, the ape has the same habits
of rest and sleep; lives on the same kind of diet, which is eaten and
assimilated in the same manner as with man; is subject to many of the
same diseases which attack the same organs, and affect them in the same
way as with man; he suffers like pains and dies in the same manner as
man under like conditions.
The scope of this book is intended only to embrace the chimpanzee
and gorilla, but the comparison which we have shown applies in the
name to all four of the anthropoid apes, but must be qualified in a
few instances to make it apply to the others. These apes differ among
themselves in certain respects in form and habits, and we will omit a
detailed comparison of the monkeys as not being relevant to the subject
in hand; but it will not be out of place to mention in a general way
the chief point in which they differ from men and apes.
There is no fixed type that will represent all kinds of monkeys.
Within the limits of their own family they present a great variety of
types, but the one marked difference between them as a unit, and the
ape as another, is, that the spinal column of the monkey is always
extended into a tail, the first vertebra of which is joined to the
base of the _sacrum_, while the ape has no tail, but the spinal column
terminates with a small pointed bone called the coccyx, exactly the
same as in man. The number of bones and the number of ribs in monkeys
differ from those in the ape or in man, and also vary among different
types of monkey.
There are many little shades and grades of difference all along the
line, but the unity of design throughout the whole range of simian life
is such as to show a continuity of plan and purpose in all essential
details of the animal economy. With man and ape the physical structures
are one, so far as they pertain to autonomy: their habits are one, so
far as they pertain to the means of life; their faculties are one, so
far as they pertain to the animal polity, yet they may not be of a
common stock.
The public mind does not seem to have grasped the correct idea of
evolution, and prejudice has blinded, to some extent, the judgment.
The common opinion that man has descended from or is related by
consanguinity to a monkey is silly and absurd. Science has never taught
such folly, nor advanced any theory from which such a conclusion
could be justly deduced. It would be a waste of time for me to offer
to explain the doctrine of evolution to any one who does not already
understand it from the literature of others on this subject. If he
still nurse the idol of the identity of man and monkey, he must be
too obtuse or too perverse to be reclaimed. But no one will deny the
physical resemblance between man and the great apes, and it is this
resemblance we seek to show rather than trace any relationship based
upon theories. It is not a matter that concerns the purpose of this
work, and we shall here dismiss the subject by saying, that things may
be equivalent and yet not identical.
CHAPTER II
CAGED IN AN AFRICAN JUNGLE
It may be of interest to the reader to know the manner in which I
have pursued the study of monkeys in a state of nature, and the means
employed to that end. I shall therefore give a brief outline of my life
in a cage in the heart of an African jungle in order to watch those
denizens of the forest, when free from all restraint.
After devoting much time for several years to the study of the speech
and habits of monkeys in captivity, I formulated a plan of going into
their native haunts, to study them in a state of freedom.
In the course of my labours up to that time, I had found out that
monkeys of the highest physical type had also a higher type of speech
than those of inferior kinds. In accord with this fact, it was logical
to infer that the anthropoid apes, being next to man in the scale of
nature, must have the faculty of speech developed in a corresponding
degree.
As the chief object of my studies was to learn the language of monkeys,
the great apes appeared to be the best subjects for that purpose, so I
turned my attention to them.
The gorilla was said to be the most like man, and the chimpanzee next.
There were none of the former in captivity, and but few of the latter,
and they were kept under conditions that forbade all efforts to do
anything in that line.
As the gorilla and chimpanzee could both be found in the same section
of tropical Africa, I selected that as the field of operation, and
began to prepare for a journey there to carry out the task I had
assumed.
The part selected was along the equator, and south of it, about two
degrees. The locality is infested with fevers, insects, serpents and
wild beasts of divers kinds. To ignore such dangers would be folly, but
there was no way to see these apes in their freedom, except to go and
live among them.
To lessen, in a degree, the dangers incurred by such an adventure, I
devised a cage of steel wire, woven into a lattice with a mesh one inch
and a half wide. This was made in twenty-four panels, three feet three
inches square, set in a frame of narrow iron strips. Each side of the
panels was provided with half-hinges, so arranged as to fit any side of
every other panel. These could be quickly bolted together with small
iron rods, and, when so bolted, formed a cage of cubical shape, six
feet six inches square.
Any one or more of the panels could be swung open as a door, and the
whole structure was painted a dingy green, so that when erected in the
forest it was almost invisible among the foliage.
While it was not strong enough to withstand a prolonged siege, it
afforded a certain immunity from being surprised by the fierce and
stealthy beasts of the jungle, and would allow the occupant time to
kill an assailant before the wires would yield to an attack from
anything except an elephant. Of course it was no protection against
them, but as they rarely ever attack a man unless provoked to it, there
was little danger from that source; besides, there were not many of
those huge brutes in the immediate part in which my strange domicile
was set up.
Through this open fabric one could see without obstruction on all
sides, and yet feel a certain sense of safety from being devoured by
leopards or panthers.
Over this frail fortress was a roof of bamboo leaves, and it was
provided with curtains of canvas to be hung up in case of rain. The
floor was of thin boards, steeped in tar, and the structure was set up
about two feet from the ground, on nine small posts.
[Illustration: WAITING AND WATCHING IN THE CAGE]
It was furnished with a bed, made of heavy canvas supported by two
poles of bamboo, attached to the edge of it. One of these poles was
lashed fast to the side of the cage, and the other was suspended at
night by strong wire hooks, hung on the top of it. During the day, the
bed was rolled up on one of the poles, so that it was out of the way. I
had a light camp chair, which folded up, and a table was improvised
by a broad, short board hung on wires. This could be set up by the wall
of the cage at night, out of the way. To this meagre outfit was added a
small kerosene stove, and a swinging shelf.
A few tin cases contained my wearing apparel, blanket, pillow,
photograph camera and supplies, medicines, and an ample store of canned
meats, crackers, &c. A magazine rifle, revolver, ammunition, and a
few useful tools, such as a hammer, saw, pliers, files, and a heavy
bush-knife, completed my stock, except some tin platters, cups and
spoons. These served in cooking, and also for the table, instead of
dishes.
With this equipment I sailed from New York on the 9th of July 1892,
_viâ_ England, to the port of Gaboon, the site of the colonial
government of the French Congo. This place is within a few miles of
the equator, and near the borders of the country in which the gorilla
lives. I arrived there on the 18th of October of the same year, and
after a delay of a few weeks I set out to find the object of my search.
Leaving this place, I went up the Ogowe River about two hundred miles,
and through the lake region on the south side of it. After some weeks
of travel and inquiry, I arrived at the lake of Ferran Vaz, in the
territory of the Nkami tribe. The lake is about thirty miles long, by
eight or ten wide, and interspersed with a few islands of large size,
covered with a dense growth of tropical vegetation. The country around
the lake is mostly low and marshy, traversed by creeks, lagoons and
rivers. Most of the land is covered by a deep and dreary jungle, with a
few sandy plains at intervals.
In the depths of this gloomy forest, reeking with the effluvia of
decaying plants, and teeming with insect life, the gorilla dwells in
safety and seclusion. In the same forest the chimpanzee makes his
abode, but is less timid and retiring.
On the south side of this lake, not quite two degrees below the
equator, and within some twenty miles of the ocean, I selected a place
in the heart of the primeval forest, erected my little fortress, and
gave it the name of _Fort Gorilla_.
In the latter part of April 1893, I took up my abode in this desolate
spot, and began my long and solitary vigil.
My sole companion was a young chimpanzee, that I named Moses, and, from
time to time, a native boy, as a servant.
Seated in this cage, in the silence of the great forest, I have seen
the gorilla in all his majesty, strolling at leisure through his
sultry domain, in quest of food. I have seen the chimpanzee under like
conditions, and the happy, chattering monkey in the freedom of his
jungle home.
In this novel hermitage I remained for the greater part of the time for
one hundred and twelve days and nights in succession, watching these
animals in perfect freedom following the pursuits of their daily life.
With such an experience, I will not be charged with vanity in saying
that I have seen more of those animals in a state of nature than
any white man ever saw, and under conditions more favourable for a
careful study of their manners and habits, than could otherwise be
possible. Hence, what I have to say concerning them is the result of an
experience which no other man can claim.
I do not mean to ignore or impugn what others have said on this
subject, but the sum of my labours in this field leads me to doubt much
that has been said and accepted as true. I regret that it devolves
upon me to controvert many stories told about these great apes, but
finding no germ of truth in some of them, I cannot evade the duty of
denying them. I regret it all the more, because many of them have been
woven into the fabric of natural history, and marked with the seal of
scientific approval; but time will sustain me in the denial.
I am aware that bigots of certain schools will challenge me for
pointing out their mistakes, and some will assume to know more about
these apes than a fish knows about swimming; but truth defies all
theory.
Each kind of ape will be treated in the chapter devoted to it, but only
those with which I have dealt in person will be discussed at length.
Others will be noticed, in order to sustain the continuity of the
subject and show the relative planes of those under consideration. But
before proceeding with the monkeys, I shall pause to relate some of the
incidents of my hermitage.
CHAPTER III
DAILY LIFE AND SCENES IN THE JUNGLE
I am so frequently asked about the details of my daily life in the
cage, how the time was occupied and what I saw besides the apes, that I
deem it of interest to relate a few of the events of my sojourn in this
wild spot.
In order to convey an idea of it, I shall relate the incidents of a
single day and night; but of course the routine varied in some degree
from day to day.
At six o'clock, as the sun first peeps into the forest, it finds me
with a tin cup of coffee, just made on the little kerosene stove. It
is black and dreggy, but with a little sugar it is not bad. With a few
dry crackers I break my fast of twelve hours, and am ready for the task
before me.
[Illustration: STARTING FOR A STROLL]
In the meantime the boy rolls up my bed and his mat. By this time Moses
has helped himself to a banana or two. Then I take my rifle, he climbs
up on my shoulder, and we go for a short walk in the bush, while the
boy sweeps out the cage and puts everything in order for the day. When
we return, the boy, armed with a native spear, or a huge knife,
takes the big jug, and goes to a spring, about three hundred yards
away, for a supply of water.
Then Moses is allowed to climb about in the bushes and amuse himself;
the boy sits down, or goes to his village a mile away, while I watch
for gorillas. Silence is the order of the day, and here I sit,
sometimes for hours alone, almost as quiet as a tomb.
Presently a rustle of the leaves is heard, and a porcupine comes
waddling into view. He is poking his nose about, in search of food, but
has not discovered my presence. He comes closer, until the scent or
sight of me startles him, and away he goes. By-and-by a civet cat comes
stealing through the bush, till he observes me, and hastily departs.
After an hour of patient waiting the sound of clashing boughs is heard
in the tree-tops. A few minutes later may be seen a big school of
monkeys, led by a solemn-looking old pilot, who doubtless knows every
palm that bears nuts within twenty miles around. They are now coming to
inspect my cage, and see what new thing this is, set up in monkeydom.
As they come nearer, they become more cautious and tardy. They find a
strong bough in the top of a big tree, and the grave old pilot perches
himself far out on it, to peep at my cage. Just behind him sits the
next in rank, resting his hands on the shoulders of the leader, while a
dozen more are arranged in similar attitudes behind each other, along
the limb. Each one pushes the one just in front of him, to make him
move up a little closer, but no one of them, except the pilot, seems to
want the front seat.
They look in silence, turning their little heads from side to side, as
if to be certain it is not an illusion. They nudge one another again,
and move up an inch or two closer, squinting their bright eyes, as if
in doubt about the strange sight before them. They have made such calls
before, but have not quite determined what kind of an animal this is in
the cage. At each successive visit they come a little nearer, until now
they are not a hundred feet away. Now they take alarm at something, and
hurry away in another direction.
Next comes an armadillo, prowling about for insects among the leaves.
He catches a glimpse of the cage, he stands motionless for a moment, to
see what it is, and then, like a flash, he is gone.
During this time birds of divers kinds have been flying in all
directions. Some of them perch on the limbs near by, some pick the
nuts of the palm-tree, while others scream and screech, like so many
tin-whistles, or brass horns. Many of them are parrots. Some have
brilliant and beautiful plumage.
It is now ten o'clock. Not a breath of air stirs a leaf of the whole
forest. The heat is sweltering and oppressive. The voices of the birds
grow less and less frequent. Even the insects do not appear to be so
busy as they were in the earlier hours of the day. Moses has abandoned
his rambles in the bush, and sits on a fallen tree, with his arms
folded, as if he had finished work for the day.
Along towards this hour everything in the forest appears to become
quiet and inactive, and continues so until about two o'clock in
the afternoon. I was impressed on more than one occasion with this
universal rest during the hottest part of the day, and the same thing
seems to prevail among the aquatic animals.
I now prepare my repast for midday, by opening a can of meat or fish,
and warming it in a tin plate on the little stove. I have no vegetables
or dessert, but with a few crackers broken up, and stirred into the
grease, and plenty of water to drink with it, I find it an ample meal.
When it is finished, Moses coils up in his little hammock, swung by my
side, and takes his siesta. The boy, when there, stretches out on the
floor, and does likewise.
During the hours from ten till two, few things are astir, though I have
seen some interesting sights during that time.
It must not be supposed that the change is sudden at these periods, for
such is not the case. It is not a fixed time for everything to cease
its activity. It is by slow degrees that one after another becomes
quiescent, until life appears almost extinct for a time; but as the sun
begins to descend the western sky, things begin to revive, and by three
o'clock everything is again astir.
Now a lone gorilla comes stalking through the bush, looking for the red
fruit of the _batuna_ that grows at the root of the plant. He plucks
a bud of some kind, tears it apart with his fingers, smells it, and
throws it aside. Now he takes hold of a tall sapling, looks up at the
shaking branches, and turns aside. He pauses and looks around as if
suspicious of danger. He listens to see if anything is approaching, but
being reassured he resumes his search for food. Now he gently parts the
tangled vines that intercept his way, and creeps noiselessly through
them. He hesitates, looks carefully around him, and then proceeds
again. He is coming this way. I can see his black face as he turns his
head from side to side, looking for food. What a brutal visage! It has
a scowl upon it, as if he were at odds with all his race. He is now
within a few yards of the cage, but is not aware of my presence. He
plucks the tendril from a vine, smells it, and puts it in his mouth. He
plucks another and another. I shall note that vine, and ascertain what
it is. Now he is in a small open space, where the bush is cut away, so
as to afford a better view. He seems to know that this is an unusual
thing to find in the jungle, so he surveys it with caution. He comes
nearer. Now he has detected me. He sits down upon the ground, and looks
at me as if in utter surprise. A moment more he turns aside, looks back
over his shoulders, but hurries away into the dense jungle.
It is now four o'clock, and I hear a wild pig rooting among the fallen
leaves. I see a small rodent that looks like a diminutive hedgehog. He
is gnawing the bark from a dead limb, possibly to capture some insect
secreted under it; but as rodents usually live upon vegetable diet, he
may have some other reason for this.
It is five o'clock, and the shadows are beginning to deepen in the
forest. I see two little grey monkeys playing in the top of a very tall
tree. The birds are tiresome and monotonous. Yonder is a small snake
twined around the limb of a bushy tree. He is doubtless hunting for a
nest of young birds. The low, muttering sound of distant thunder is
heard, but little by little it grows louder. It is the familiar voice
of the tornado. I must prepare for it.
The stove is now lighted, and a pie-pan of water set on it. In it is
stirred an ounce of desiccated soup. It is heated to the boiling-point,
and then set on the swinging table. Then a can of mutton is emptied
into another pan of the same kind, and a few crackers broken and
stirred in. The soup is eaten while the meat is being cooked. When it
is ready, the flame of the stove is turned off, and the second course
of dinner is served, consisting of canned mutton, crackers and water.
The dishes, consisting usually of three tin pie-pans and a cup, are
thrust out into the adjacent bush, for the ants and other insects to
clean during the night.
In the meantime Moses has had his supper, and gone to his own little
cage, to find shelter from the approaching storm. The curtains are hung
up on the side of the cage, from which the tornado is coming. Now the
leaves begin to rustle. It is the first cool breath of the day, but
it is only the herald of the furious wind that is rapidly advancing.
The tree-tops begin to sway. Now they are lashing each other as if in
anger; the strong trees are bending from the wind; the lightning is so
vivid that it is blinding; the thunder is terrific. One shaft after
another, the burning bolts are hurled through the moaning forest. The
roar of thunder is unceasing. I hear the dull thud of a falling tree,
while the crackling boughs are falling all around me. The rain is
pouring in torrents, and all nature is in a rage. Every bird and beast
has sought a place of refuge from the warring elements. No sign of life
is visible, no sound is audible, save the voice of the storm.
How unspeakably desolate the jungle is at such an hour, no fancy can
depict. How utterly helpless a human being is against the wrath of
nature, no one can realise, except to live through such an hour in such
a place.
[Illustration: PREPARING FOR THE NIGHT]
On one occasion five large trees were blown down, within a radius of
two hundred yards of my cage, and scores of limbs were broken off by
the wind, and scattered like straws. Some of them were six or eight
inches in diameter, and ten or twelve feet long. One of them broke the
corner off the bamboo roof over my cage. The limb was broken off a huge
cotton-tree near by, and fell from a height of about sixty feet. It was
carried by the wind some yards out of a vertical line as it fell, and
just passed far enough to spare my cage. Had it struck the body of
it, no doubt it would have been partly demolished, for the main body
of the bough was about six inches in diameter and ten feet long. This
particular tornado lasted for nearly three hours, and was the most
violent of any I saw during the entire year.
Now the storm subsides, but the darkness is impenetrable. I have no
light of any kind, for that would alarm the inhabitants of the jungle,
and attract a vast army of insects from all quarters. Moses and the boy
are fast asleep, while I sit and listen to the many strange and weird
sounds heard in the jungle at night The bush crackles near by. It is a
leopard creeping through it. He is coming this way. Slowly, cautiously
he approaches. I cannot see him in the deep shadows of the foliage,
but I can locate him by sound, and identify him by his peculiar
tread. Perhaps he will attack the cage when he gets near enough. He
is creeping up closer. He evidently smells his prey, and is bent on
seizing it.
My rifle stands by my elbow. I silently raise it, and lay it across my
lap. The brute is now crouching within a few yards of me, but I cannot
see to shoot him. I hear him move again, as if adjusting himself to
spring upon the cage. He cannot see it, but he has located me by scent.
I hear a low rustling of the leaves as he wags his tail preparatory to
a leap. If I could only touch a button and turn on a bright electric
light over his head! He remains crouching near, while I sit with the
muzzle of my rifle turned towards him, and my hand on the lock. It is
a trying moment. If he should spring with such force as to break the
frail network that is between us, there could be but one fate for me.
In the brief space of a few seconds a thousand things run through one's
mind. Not prompted by fear, but by suspense. Is it best to fire into
the black shadows, or to wait for his attack? What is his exact pose?
What does he intend? How big is he? Can he see me? And a category of
similar questions arise at this critical moment.
A clash of bushes, and he is gone. Not with the stealthy, cautious
steps with which he advanced, but in hot haste. He has taken alarm,
abandoned his purpose, and far away I can hear the dry twigs crashing
as he hurries to some remote nook. He flees as if he thought he was
being pursued. He is gone, and I feel a sense of relief.
It is ten o'clock, the low rumbling of distant thunder is all that
remains of the tornado that swept over me a few hours ago. The stars
are shining, but the foliage of the forest is so dense, that I can only
see one here and there, peeping through the tangled boughs overhead. I
hear some little waif among the dead leaves, but what it is, or what it
wants, can only be surmised.
Another hour is passed, and I retire to my hammock. The sounds of
nocturnal birds are fewer now. I hear a strange, tremulous sound up
in the boughs of the bushes near the cage. It sounds like the leaves
vibrating. It ceases, and begins again at intervals. I listen with
attention, for it is very singular. It is a huge python in search of
birds. He reaches his head and neck forward, grasps the bough of a
slender bush, releases his coil from another, and by contraction draws
his slimy body forward. The pliant boughs yield to his heavy weight.
The abrasion causes it to tremble, and the leaves to quake.
I fall asleep and rest in comfort, while the dew that has fallen on the
leaves gathers itself into huge drops, their weight bends the leaves,
and they fall from their lofty perch, striking those far below with a
sharp, popping sound. The hours fly by, but in the stillness of the
early morning is heard a most unearthly scream. It is a king gorilla.
He simply makes every leaf in the forest tremble with the sound of his
piercing shrieks.
The dawn again awakes to life the teeming forest, and all its denizens
again go forth to join the universal chase for food.
All of these incidents cited are true in every detail, but they did not
occur every day, nor did all of them occur on the same day, as would be
inferred from the manner in which they are related.
This gives a glimpse of my real daily life in the jungle, but the
monotony was often relieved by going out for a day or two at a time,
or hunting on the plains, a few miles away. My menu was occasionally
varied by a chicken, piece of goat, fish or porcupine; but the general
average of it was about as described.
CHAPTER IV
THE CHIMPANZEE
Next to man, the chimpanzee occupies the highest plane in the scale of
nature. His mental and social traits, together with his physical type,
assign him to this place.
In his distribution, he is confined to Equatorial Africa. His habitat,
roughly outlined, is from the fourth parallel north of the equator
to the fifth parallel south of it, along the west coast, and extends
eastward about half-way across the continent. His range can be defined
with more precision, but its exact limits are not quite certain. Its
boundary on the north is defined by the Kameroon valley, slightly
curving to the north, but its extent eastward is not well known. He
does not appear to be found anywhere north of this river, and it is
quite certain that the few specimens attributed to the north coast of
the Gulf of Guinea do not belong to that territory. On the south, its
boundary starts from the coast, at a point near the fifth parallel,
curves northward, crossing the Congo near Stanley Pool, pursues a
north-east course, to the centre of the Congo State, again curves
southward, across the Upper Congo, towards the north end of Lake
Tanganyika. Its limits appear to conform more to isothermal lines, than
to the rigid lines of geometry.
Specimens are sometimes secured by collectors beyond the limits
mentioned, but so far as I can ascertain they appear to have been
captured within these limits. There are numerous centres of population.
This ape is not strictly confined to any definite topography, but
occupies the upland forests or the low basin lands.
In one section he is known to the natives by one name, and in another
by quite a different one. The name _chimpanzee_ is of native origin.
In the Fiot tongue the name of the ape is _chimpan_, which is a slight
corruption of the true name. It is properly a compound word, the first
syllable is from the Fiot word _tyi_, which white men erroneously
pronounce like "chee." It means "small," and is found in many of the
native compounds. The latter syllable is from _mpâ_, a bushman, hence
the word literally means, in the Fiot tongue, "a small bushman."
Among other tribes the common name of the ape is _ntyigo_. The two
names appear to come from the same ultimate source. The latter is
derived from the Mpongwe word _ntyia_, blood, hence breed, and the word
_iga_, the forest, and literally means the "breed of the forest." The
same idea is involved in the two names, and both convey the oblique
idea that the animal is something more like man than other animals are.
There are two distinct types of this ape, and they are now regarded as
two species. One of them is distributed throughout the entire habitat
described, while the other is only known south of the equator, between
the second and fifth parallels, and west of the Congo. Both kinds are
found within these limits, but the variety which is confined to that
region is called, by the tribes that know the ape, the _kulu-kamba_, in
contradistinction to the other kind, known as _ntyigo_. This name is
derived from _kulu_, the onomotope of the sound made by the animal and
the native verb _kamba_, to speak, hence the name literally means the
thing "that speaks kulu."
In certain points the common variety differs from the _kulu-kamba_ in
a degree that would indicate that they belong to distinct species,
but the skulls and skeletons are so nearly the same, that no one can
identify them with certainty. In life, however, it is not difficult to
distinguish them.
The _ntyigo_ has a longer face and more prominent nose than the _kulu_.
His complexion is of all shades of brown, from a light tan to a dark,
dingy mummy colour. He has a thin coat of short black hair, which is
often described as brown, but that effect is due to the colour of his
skin blending with that of his suit. In early life his hair is quite
black, but in advanced age the ends are tipped with a dull white,
giving him a dingy grey colour. The change is due to the same causes
that produce grey hairs on the human body. But there is one point in
which they differ. The entire hair of the human becomes white with age,
while only the end of it does so in the chimpanzee. In the human, one
hair becomes white, while another retains its natural colour, but in
this ape all the hairs appear to undergo the same change.
In very aged specimens the outer part of the hair often assumes a
dirty, brownish colour, which is due to the want of vascular action
to supply the colour pigment, and the same effect is often seen in
preserved specimens, for the same reason that the hair of an Egyptian
mummy is brown, while in life it was doubtless a jet black. In this ape
the hair is uniformly black, except the small tuft of white at the base
of the spinal column and a few white hairs on the lower lip and chin.
I have examined about sixty living specimens and I have never found
any other colour among them only from the cause mentioned. The normal
colour of both sexes is the same.
The _kulu_, as a rule, has but little hair on the top of its head, but
that on the back of it and on the neck is much longer than elsewhere on
the body, and longer on them than on other apes.
Much stress is laid by some writers on the bald head of one ape and the
parted hair on that of another. These features cannot be relied upon as
having any specific meaning, unless there are as many species as there
are apes. Sometimes a specimen has no hair on the summit of its head,
while another differs from it in this respect alone by having a suit of
hair more or less dense, and yet in every other respect they are the
same. Some of them have the hair growing almost down to the eyebrows,
and each hair appears to diverge from a common centre like the radii
of a sphere: another of the same species will have the hair parted in
the middle as neatly as if it had been combed, while another may have
it in wild disorder. The same thing is noticed in certain monkeys, and
it is equally true of the human being. As a factor in classifying them
it signifies nothing. It may be remarked that as a whole the _kulu_ is
inclined to have little hair upon the crown of the head.
Between the two species there is a close alliance, but the males differ
more than the females. This is especially true in the structure of
certain organs.
The face in youth is quite free from hairs, but in the adult state
there is, in both sexes, a slight tendency to grow a light down over
the cheeks.
The colour of the skin is not uniform in all parts of the body,
especially on the face. Some specimens have patches of dark colour set
in a lighter ground. Sometimes certain parts of the face will be dark,
and other parts light. I have seen one specimen quite freckled.
It is said by some that the skin is light in colour when young, and
becomes darker with age, but such is not the case. It is true that
the skin darkens a few shades as the cuticle hardens, but there is no
transition from one colour to another, and this slight change of shade
is only on the exposed parts.
The _kulu_ has a short, round face, very much like that of a human. In
early life it is quite free from hairs, but, like the other, a slight
down appears with age. He has a heavy suit of hair on the body. It is
coarser than that of the _ntyigo_, longer, and inclined to wave, giving
it a fluffy aspect. The colour is jet black, except a small tuft of
white about the base of the spine.
The skin varies in colour less than in the _ntyigo_, and the darker
shades seldom appear. The eyes are a shade darker, and in both
species the parts of the eye which are white in man are brown in the
chimpanzee, gradually shading off into a yellow near the base of the
optic nerve. As a rule, the _kulu_ has a clear, open visage, with a
kindly expression. It is confiding and affectionate to a degree beyond
any other animal. It is more intelligent than its _confrère_, and
displays the faculty of reason almost like a human being.
One important point in which these apes differ is in the scope and
quality of voice. The _kulu_ makes a greater range of vocal sounds than
the other. Some of them are soft and musical, while those uttered by
the _ntyigo_ are fewer in number and more harsh in quality. One of them
resembles the bark of a dog, and another is a sharp screaming sound.
The _kulu_ evinces a certain sense of gratitude, while the _ntyigo_
appears to be almost devoid of this instinct. There are many traits in
which they differ, but human beings, of the same family, also differ in
these qualities.
The points in which they coincide are many, and after a brief review of
them, we may consider the question of making two species of them, or
assigning them to the same.
The skeletons, as we have noted, are the same in form, size and
proportion. Their muscular, nervous, and veinous systems are the
same, except a slight structural variation in the genital organs of
the males, and the degree of mobility in certain facial muscles. The
character of their food, and the mode of eating it, are the same in
each. In captivity they appear to regard each other as one of their own
kind, but whether they mate or not remains to be learned.
Such is the sum of the likenesses and differences between the two
extreme types of this genus; but with so many points in common, and
so few in which they differ, it is a matter of serious doubt whether
they can be said to constitute two distinct species, or only two marked
varieties of a common species. This doubt is further emphasised by the
fact that all the way between these two extremes are many gradations of
intermediate types, so that it is next to impossible to say where one
ends and the other begins.
In view of all these facts, I believe them to be two well-defined
varieties of the same species; they are the white man and the negro of
a common stock. They are the patrician and plebeian of one race, or the
nobility and yeomanry of one tribe. They are like different phases of
the same moon. The _kulu-kamba_ is simply a high order of chimpanzee.
[Illustration: IN THE JUNGLE]
It is quite true that two varieties of one species usually have
the same vocal characteristics, and this appears to be the strongest
point in favour of assigning them to separate species, but it is not
impossible that even this may be waived.
Leaving this question for others to decide, as they find the evidence
to sustain them, we shall, for the present, regard them as one kind,
and consider their physical, social and mental status.
Whether they be all of one species, or divided into many, the same
habits, traits, and modes of life prevail throughout the entire group,
so that one description will apply to all, so far as we have to deal
with them in general. There are many incidents to be related elsewhere,
which apply to individuals of the special kinds mentioned, but for the
present the term chimpanzee is meant to include the whole group, except
where it may be otherwise specified.
CHAPTER V
PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND MENTAL QUALITIES
Physically, the chimpanzee, as we have seen, closely resembles man,
but there are certain points that have not been mentioned in which he
differs from him, also from other apes. We may here take note of a few
of those points.
The model and structure of the ear of this ape are somewhat the same
as those of man, but the organ is larger in size, and thinner in
proportion. It is very sensitive to sound, but dull to the touch,
indicating that the surface is not well provided with nerves. He cannot
move it as other animals move theirs by the use of the muscles at its
base, but, like the human ear, it is quite fixed and helpless in this
respect.
The hand of the chimpanzee is long and narrow. The finger bones are
longer, in proportion to their size, than those of the human hand, and
slightly more curved in the plane of the digits. One thing peculiar in
the hand of the chimpanzee, is that the tendons inside of the hand,
which are called the flexors, and designed to close the fingers, are
shorter than the line of the bones, and on this account the fingers
of the ape are always held in a curve, so that he cannot possibly
straighten them into a line. This is probably due to the habit of
climbing in which he indulges to a great extent; also to the practice
of hanging by the hands. In making his way through the bush, he often
swings from bough to bough by the arms alone, and sometimes suspends
himself by one arm, while he uses the other to pluck and eat fruit.
This characteristic is transmitted to the young, and is found in the
first stages of infancy. The thumb is not truly opposable, but is
inclined to close towards the palm of the hand. It is of little use to
him. His nails are thick, dark in colour, and not so flat as those of
man.
Instead of having the great toe in line with the others, it projects
at an angle from the side of the foot, something after the manner of
the human thumb. The foot itself is flexible, and has great prehensile
power. In climbing, and in many other ways, it is used as a hand. The
tendons in the sole of the foot are equal in length to the line of the
bones, and the digits of the foot can be straightened, but both members
are inclined to curve into an arch in the line of the first and second
digits.
His habit of walking is peculiar. The greater part of the weight is
borne upon the legs. The sole of the foot is placed almost flat on the
ground, but the pressure is greatest along the outer edge of it, in the
line of the last digit. This is easily noticed where he walks through
plastic ground. In the act of walking he always uses the hands, but
does not place the palm on the ground; he uses the backs of the fingers
instead, sometimes only the first joints are placed on the ground,
resting on the nails; at other times the first and second joints are
used, while at others the backs of all the fingers from the knuckles to
the nails serve as a base for the arm. The integument on these parts is
not callous, like that of the palm; the colour pigment is distributed
the same as on other exposed parts of the body, which shows that the
weight of the body is not borne on the fore limbs, as it is in the
case of a true quadruped, but indicates that the hand is only used to
balance the body and shift the weight from foot to foot, while in the
act of walking. The weight is not equally distributed between the hands
and the feet.
His waddling gait is caused by his short legs, stooping habit and heavy
body. All bipeds with stout bodies and short legs are predisposed to a
waddling motion, which is due to the wide angle between the weight and
the changing centre of gravity.
The chimpanzee is neither a true quadruped, nor a true biped, but
combines the habits of both. It appears to be a transition state from
the former to the latter, and a vestige of this habit is still to be
found in man, whose arms alternate in motion with his legs in the act
of walking, which suggests the idea that he may, at some time, have had
a similar habit of locomotion. Such a fact does not show that he was
ever an ape, but it does point to the belief that he has once occupied
a like horizon in nature to that now occupied by the ape, and that
having emerged from it, he still retains traces of the habit.
This peculiarity is still more easily observed in children than in
adults. In early infancy all children are inclined to be bow-legged,
and in their first efforts at walking, invariably press most of their
weight on the outer edge of the foot, and curve the toes inward, as
if to grasp the surface on which the foot is placed. The instinct to
prehension cannot be mistaken; it differs in degree in different races,
and is vastly more pronounced in negro than in white infants.
There is another peculiar feature in the walk of the chimpanzee. The
motion of the arms and legs do not alternate with the same degree of
regularity that they do in man or quadrupeds. This ape uses his arms
more like crutches. They are moved forward, not quite, but almost at
the same instant, and the motion of the legs is not at equal intervals.
To be more explicit: the hands are placed almost opposite each other;
the right foot is advanced about three times its length; the left foot
placed about one length in front of it; the arms are again moved; the
right foot again advanced about three lengths forward of the left; and
the left again brought about one length in front of it. The same animal
does not always use the same foot to make the long stride. It will be
seen by this that each foot moves through the same space, and that in
a line, the tracks of either foot are the same distance apart, but the
distance from the track of the right foot to that of the left is about
three times as great as the distance from the track of the left foot to
that of the right; or the reverse may be the case. The distance from
the track of either foot to the succeeding track of the other, is never
the same between the right and left tracks, except where the animal is
walking at great leisure.
There is, perhaps, no animal more awkward than the chimpanzee, when
he attempts to run. He sometimes swings his body with such force
between his arms as to lose his balance, and falls backward on the
ground. I have often seen him do this, and when he would right himself
again, would be half his length farther backward than forward of his
starting-point.
The chimpanzee is doubtless a better climber than the gorilla. He finds
much of his food in trees, but is not arboreal in habit in the proper
sense of that term. To be arboreal, the animal must sleep in trees or
on a perch, but the chimpanzee cannot do so. He sleeps the same as a
human being does. He lies down on the back or side, and, as a rule,
uses his arms for a pillow. I do not believe it possible for him to
sleep on a perch. He may sometimes doze in that way, but the grasp of
his foot is only brought into use when he is conscious of it. I have
often known Moses to climb down from the trees and lie upon the ground
to take a nap. I never even saw him so much as doze in any other
position.
I may here call attention to one fact concerning the arboreal habit.
There appears to be a rule to which this habit conforms. Among apes
and monkeys the habit is in keeping with the size of the animal. The
largest monkeys, as a rule, are only found among the lowest trees, and
the smaller monkeys among the taller trees. It is a rare thing ever
to see a large monkey in the top of a tall tree. He may venture there
for food or to make his escape, but it is not his proper element. This
same rule appears to hold good among the apes themselves. The gibbon
has this habit in a more pronounced degree than any other true ape.
The orang appears to be next; the chimpanzee then comes in for a third
place, and the gorilla last. It must not be understood that all of
these apes do not frequently climb, even to the tops of the highest
trees; but that is not their normal mode of life any more than the top
of a mast is the proper place on a ship for a sailor.
The chimpanzee is nomadic in habit, and, like the gorilla, seldom or
never passes two nights in the same spot. As to his building huts or
nests in trees or elsewhere, I am not prepared to believe that he ever
does so. I hunted in vain, for months, and made diligent inquiry in
several tribes, but failed to find a specimen of any kind of shelter
built by an ape. I do not assert that it is absolutely untrue, but I
have never been able to obtain any evidence, except the statement of
the natives that it was true. On the contrary, certain facts point to
the opposite belief. If the ape built him a permanent home the natives
would soon discover it, and there would be no difficulty in having
it pointed out. If he built a new one every night, however rude and
primitive it might be there would be so many of them in the forest that
there would be no difficulty in finding them. The nomadic habit plainly
shows that he does not build the former kind, and the utter absence of
them shows that he does not build the latter kind, and the whole story
appears to be without foundation.
In addition to these facts, one thing to be noticed is that few or
none of the mammals of the tropics ever build any kind of a home. Even
the animals that have the habit of burrowing in other climates, do not
appear to do so in the tropics. This is due, no doubt, to the warm
climate, in which they are not in need of shelter. Of course birds, and
other oviperous animals, build nests, as they do elsewhere.
The longevity of these apes is largely a matter of conjecture, but
from a cursory study of their dentition and other factors of their
development, it appears that the male reaches the adult stage at an age
ranging from nine to eleven years, while the female matures at six or
seven. These appear to be the periods at which they pass from the state
of adolescence. Some of them live to be perhaps forty years of age, or
upwards, but the average of life is doubtless not more than twenty-two
or twenty-three years. The average of life is more uniform with them
than with man. These figures are not mere guesswork, but are deduced
from reliable data.
The period of gestation in both these apes is a matter that cannot
be stated with certainty. Some of the natives say that it is nine
months, while others believe that it is seven months or less, and there
are some facts to support both of these claims, but nothing quite
conclusive. The sum of the evidence that I could find rather pointed to
a term of three months or thereabouts as the true period. During the
months of February and March the male gorillas are vociferous in their
screaming, the young adults separate from the families, and some other
things indicate that this is the season of pairing and breeding. Such
may not be the case, but the inference is well-founded. It is quite
certain that the season of bearing the young is from the beginning
of May to the end of June. It is about this time that the dry season
begins and continues for four months. It would appear that nature has
selected this period of the year because it is more favourable for
rearing the young. During this season food is more abundant and can be
secured with less effort. The lowlands are drier, and this enables the
mother to retire to the dense jungle with her young, where she is less
exposed to danger than she would be in the more open forest.
It is not certain whether the periods are the same with both apes or
not, and native reports differ on this point, but it is probable that
they are the same.
From a social point of view, the chimpanzee appears to be of a little
higher caste than other animals. In his marital ideas he is polygamous,
but is, in a certain degree, loyal to his family. The paternal instinct
is a trifle more refined in him than in most other animals. He seems
to appreciate the relationship of parent and child more, and retain
it longer than others do. Most male animals discard their young, and
become estranged to them at a very early age; but the chimpanzee keeps
his children with him until they are old enough to go away and rear a
family of their own.
The family of the chimpanzee frequently consists of three or four
wives and ten or twelve children, with one adult male; but there are
cases known in which two or three elderly males have been seen in the
same family, but they appear to have their own wives and children.
In such an event, however, there seems to be one who is supreme.
This fact suggests the idea that among them a form of patriarchal
government prevails. The wives and children do not appear to question
the authority of the patriarch, or to rebel against it. The male parent
often plays with his children, and appears to be fond of them.
[Illustration: A STROLL IN THE JUNGLE]
There is one universal error that I desire here to correct. It is the
common idea that animals are so strongly possessed of the parental
instinct that they nobly sacrifice their own lives in defence of
their young. I do not wish to dispel any belief that tends to dignify
or ennoble animals, for I am their special friend and champion; but
truth demands that we qualify this statement. It is quite true that
many have lost their lives in such acts of defence, but it was not a
voluntary sacrifice. It was not alone in the defence of their young,
but in many cases it was in self-defence. In others, it was from a lack
of judgment. These apes have often been frightened away from their
young, and the latter captured while the parents were fleeing from
the scene. This may have been the result of sagacity rather than of
depravity, but the parental instinct in both sexes, in many instances,
has failed to restrain them from flight. If it be a foe that appears
to come within the measure of their own power, they will certainly
defend their young, and this sometimes results in the loss of their own
lives; but if it be one of such formidable aspect as to appear quite
invincible, the parents leave the young to their fate. This is true of
many other animals, including man.
I have no desire to detract from the heroic quality of this instinct,
or to dim the glory it sheds upon noble deeds ascribed to it; but the
fact that a parent incurs the risk of its own life in the defence of
its young, is not a true test of its strength or quality. It is only
in the few isolated cases of a voluntary sacrifice of the parent,
foreknowing the result, that it can be said the act was due to the
instinct. In most cases it is under the belief in its ability to
rescue the one in danger, but the parent is not wholly aware of its own
danger.
I doubt if any animal except man ever deliberately offered its own life
as a ransom for that of another, and such instances in human history
are so rare as to immortalise the actor.
To whatever extent the instinct may be found, it is much stronger in
the female than in the male, and it appears to be stronger in domestic
animals than in wild ones. To what extent this is due to their contact
with man, it is difficult to say. The germ may be inherent, but it
certainly yields to culture.
The fact of the ape deserting its offspring under certain conditions,
may be taken as an evidence of its superior intelligence and its
appreciation of life and danger, rather than a low, brutish impulse. It
is the exercise of superior judgment that causes man to act with more
prudence than other animals. It does not detract from his nobleness.
Within the family circle of the chimpanzee the father is supreme;
but he does not degrade his royalty by being a tyrant. Each member
of the family seems to have certain rights that are not impugned by
others. For example, possession is the right of ownership. When one ape
procures a certain article of food, the others do not try to dispossess
it. It is from this source, doubtless, that man inherits the idea of
private ownership. It is the same principle amplified by which nations
hold the right of territory, but nations often violate this right, and
so do chimpanzees when not held in check by something more potent than
a sense of justice. With all due respect, I do not think the ape abuses
the right by urging his claim beyond his real needs, while nations
sometimes do.
When a member of a family of apes is ill, the others are quite
conscious of it, and evince a certain amount of solicitude. Their
conduct indicates that they have, in a small degree, the passion of
sympathy, but the emotion is feeble and wavering. So far as I know,
they do not essay any treatment, except to soothe and comfort the
sufferer. They surely have some definite idea of what death is, and
I have reason to believe that they have a name for it. They do not
readily abandon their sick, but when one of them is unable to travel
with the band, the others rove about for some days, within call of it,
but do not minister to its wants.
It is said, if one of them is wounded, the others will rescue it if
possible, and convey it to a place of safety; but I cannot vouch for
this, as such an incident has never come within my own experience.
One of the most remarkable of all the social habits of the chimpanzee,
is the _kanjo_, as it is called in the native tongue. The word does not
mean "dance" in the sense of saltatory gyrations, but implies more the
idea of "carnival." It is believed that more than one family takes part
in these festivities.
Here and there in the jungle is found a small spot of sonorous earth.
It is irregular in shape, but is about two feet across. The surface
is of clay, and is artificial. It is superimposed upon a kind of
peat bed, which, being very porous, acts as a resonance cavity, and
intensifies the sound. This constitutes a kind of drum. It yields
rather a dead sound, but of considerable volume.
This queer drum is made by chimpanzees, who secure the clay along the
bank of some stream in the vicinity. They carry it by hand, and deposit
it while in a plastic state, spread it over the place selected, and let
it dry. I have, in my possession, a part of one that I brought home
with me from the Nkami forest. It shows the finger-prints of the apes,
which were impressed in it while the mud was yet soft.
After the drum is quite dry, the chimpanzees assemble by night in great
numbers, and the carnival begins. One or two will beat violently on
this dry clay, while others jump up and down in a wild and grotesque
manner. Some of them utter long, rolling sounds, as if trying to sing.
When one tires of beating the drum, another relieves him, and the
festivities continue in this fashion for hours.
I know of nothing like this in the social economy of any other animal,
but what it signifies, or what its origin was, is quite beyond my
knowledge. It appears probable that they do not indulge in this _kanjo_
in all parts of their domain, nor do they occur at regular intervals.
The chimpanzee is averse to solitude. He is fond of the society of
man, and is easily domesticated. If allowed to go at liberty, he is
well-disposed, and is strongly attached to man, but if confined, he
becomes vicious and ill-tempered. All animals, including man, have the
same tendency.
Mentally the chimpanzee occupies a high plane within his own sphere of
life, but within those limits the faculties of the mind are not called
into frequent exercise, and therefore they are not so active as they
are in man.
It is difficult to compare the mental status of the ape to that of
man, because there is no common basis upon which the two rest. Their
modes of life are so unlike, as to afford no common unit of measure.
Their faculties are developed along different lines. The two have but
few problems in common to solve. While the scope of the human mind
is vastly wider than that of the ape, it does not follow that it can
act with more precision in all things. There are, perhaps, instances
in which the mind of the ape excels that of man, by reason of its
adaptation to certain conditions. It is not a safe and infallible guide
to measure all things by the standard of man's opinion of himself. It
is quite true that, by such a unit of measure, the comparison is much
in favour of the man, but the conclusion is neither just nor adequate.
It is a problem of great interest, however, to compare them in this
manner, and the result would indicate that a fair specimen of the ape
is in about the same mental horizon as a child of one year old. But
if the operation were reversed, and man were placed under the natural
conditions of the ape, the comparison would be much less in his
favour. There is no common mental unit between them.
The chimpanzee exercises the faculty of reason with a fair degree of
precision, on problems that concern his own comfort or safety. He is
quick to interpret motives, to discern intents, and is a rare judge
of character. He is inquisitive, but not so imitative as monkeys are.
He is more observant of the relations of cause and effect, and in his
actions he is controlled by more definite motives. He is docile, and
quickly learns anything that lies within the range of his own mental
plane.
The opinion has long prevailed that these apes subsist upon a vegetable
diet, but such is not in anywise the case. In this respect their habits
are the same as those of man, except that the latter has learned to
cook his food, while the former eats his raw.
Their natural tastes are much diversified, and they are not all equally
fond of the same articles of food. Most of them are partial to the wild
mango, which grows in abundance in certain localities in the forest,
and is often available when other kinds of food are scarce. It thus
becomes, as it were, a staple article of food. There are many kinds of
nuts to be found in their domain, but the oil palm nut appears to be a
favourite. They also eat the kola nut, when it is to be had. Several
kinds of small fruits and berries also form a part of their diet. They
eat the stalks of some plants, the tender buds of others, and the
tendrils of certain vines, the names of which I do not know.
Most of the fruits and plants that are relished by them are either
acidulous or bitter in taste, and they are not especially fond of sweet
fruits, if they can get those having the flavours mentioned. They eat
bananas, pine-apples, and other sweet fruits, but not from choice. Most
of them appear to prefer a lime to an orange, a plantain to a banana,
or a kola nut to a sweet mango, but in captivity they acquire a taste
for sweet foods of all kinds.
In addition to these articles they devour birds, lizards, and small
rodents. They rob the birds of their eggs and their young. They make
havoc on many kinds of large insects. Those that I have owned were fond
of cooked meats and salt fish, either raw or cooked.
CHAPTER VI
THE SPEECH OF CHIMPANZEES
The speech of chimpanzees is limited to a few sounds, and these are
confined chiefly to their natural wants. The entire vocabulary of their
language embraces perhaps not more than twenty words, and many of them
are vague or ambiguous, but they express the concept of the ape with
as much precision as it is defined to his mind, and quite distinctly
enough for his purpose.
In my researches I have learned about ten words of his speech, so that
I can understand them, and make myself understood by them. Most of
these sounds are within the compass of the human voice, in tone, pitch,
and modulation; but two of them are much greater in volume than it
is possible for the human lungs to reach, and one of them rises to a
pitch more than an octave higher than any human voice. These two sounds
are audible at a great distance, but they do not fall within the true
limits of speech.
[Illustration: THE EDGE OF THE JUNGLE]
The vocal organs of this ape resemble those of man as closely as any
other character has been shown to resemble. They differ slightly in
one detail that is worthy of notice. Just above the opening called
the glottis, which is between the vocal cords, are two small sacs or
ventricles. These, in the ape, are larger and more flexible than in
man. In the act of speaking they are inflated by the air passing out
of the lungs through the long tube called the larynx. The function
of these organs is to control and modify the sound by increasing or
decreasing the pressure of the air that is jetted through this tube.
They serve, at the same time, as a reservoir and a gauge.
In the louder sounds produced by the chimpanzee these ventricles
distend until the membrane of which they are composed is held at a high
tension. This greatly intensifies the voice, and increases its volume.
It is partly due to these little sacs that the ape is able to make
such a loud and piercing scream. But the pitch and volume of his voice
cannot be due to this cause alone, for the gorilla, in which these
ventricles are much smaller, can make a vastly louder sound, unless we
are mistaken about the one ascribed to him.
Although the sounds made by the chimpanzee can be imitated by the
human voice, they cannot be expressed or represented by any system of
phonetic symbols in use among men. All alphabets have been deduced from
pictographs, and the symbol that represents any given sound has no
reference to the organs that produced it. The few rigid lines that have
survived to form the alphabets are conventional, and within themselves
meaningless, but they have been so long used to represent these sounds
of speech that it would be difficult to supplant them with others, even
if such were desired.
As no literal formula can be made to represent the phonetic elements
of the speech of chimpanzees, I have taken a new step in the art of
writing by framing a system of my own, which is rational in plan and
simple in device.
The organs of speech always act in harmony, and a certain movement
of the lips is always attended by a certain movement of the internal
organs of speech. This is true of the ape as well as of man, and in
order to utter the same sounds each would employ the same organs, and
use them in the same way.
By this means, deaf mutes are able to distinguish the sounds of speech
and reproduce them, although they do not hear them. By close study and
long practice they learn to distinguish the most delicate shades of
sound.
In this plain fact lies the clue to the method I have used. It is, as
yet, only in the infant state, but it is possible to be made, with a
very few symbols, to represent the whole range of vocal sounds made by
man or other animals.
The chief symbols I employ are the parentheses used in common print.
The two curved lines placed with the convex sides opposite, thus, (),
represent the open glottis, in which position the voice will utter the
deep sound of "O." The glottis about half closed utters the sound
of "U," as in the German, and to represent this sound a period is
inserted between the two curved lines, thus, (.). When the aperture
is contracted still more it produces the sound of "A" broad, and to
represent this a colon is placed between the lines, thus, (:). When
the aperture is restricted to a still smaller compass the sound of "U"
short is uttered, and to represent this an apostrophe is placed between
the lines, thus, ('). When the vocal cords are brought to a greater
tension, and the aperture is almost closed, it utters the short sound
of "E." To represent this sound a hyphen is inserted between the lines,
thus, (-). These are the main vowel sounds of all animals, although in
man they are sometimes modified, and to them is added the sound of "E"
long, while in the ape the long sounds of "O" and "E" are rarely, if
ever, heard.
From this vowel basis all other sounds may be deduced, and by the use
of diacritics to indicate the movement of the organs of speech, the
consonant elements may be easily expressed.
A single parenthesis, with the concave side to the left, will represent
the initial sound of "W," which seldom, but sometimes, occurs in the
sounds of animals. When used, it is placed on the left side of the
leading symbol, thus,)(), and this symbol, as it stands, should be
pronounced nearly like "U-O," but with the first letter suppressed, and
almost inaudible. Turning the concave side to the right, and placing
it on the right side of the symbol, it represents the vanishing sound
of "W," thus, ()(. This symbol reads "O-U," with the "O" long, and the
"W" depressed into the short sound of "U." The apostrophe placed before
or after the symbol will represent "F" or "V." The grave accent, thus,
(`), represents the breathing sound of "H," whether placed before or
after the symbol, and the acute accent, thus, (´), will represent the
aspirate sound of that letter in the same way.
When the symbol is written with a numeral exponent, it indicates
the degree of loudness. If there is no figure, the sound is such as
would be made by the human voice in ordinary speech. The letter "X"
will indicate a repetition of the sound, and the numeral placed after
it will show the number of times repeated, instead of the degree of
loudness. For example, we will write the sound (.), which is equivalent
to long "U," made in a normal tone, the same symbol written thus (.)2
indicates the sound, made with greater energy, and about twice as loud.
To write it thus, (.)X2, indicates that the sound was repeated, and so
on.
One peculiar sound made by these animals, which is described in
connection with the gorilla, appears to be the result of inhalation,
but I know of no other animal that makes a sound in this manner.
As an example of the use of this method, we will write the French
word "feu," which Moses mastered, thus, '('), which is equivalent to
"vû" with the "U" sounded short, the other word "wie," in German,
thus,)('), which is pronounced almost like "wû," giving "u" the short
sound again.
I shall not lead the reader through the long and painful task by giving
the entire system as far as I have gone, but what has been given will
convey an idea of a system, by means of which it will be possible to
represent the sounds of all animals, so that the student of phonetics
will recognise at once the character of the sound, even if he cannot
reproduce it by natural means.
It would be tedious and of no avail to the casual reader to reduce
to writing here the sounds made by the chimpanzee; but it may be of
interest to mention and describe the character and use of some of them.
Perhaps the most frequent sound made by all animals, appears to be
that referring to food, and therefore it may claim the first place in
our attention. This word in the language of the chimpanzee begins with
the short sound of the vowel "u" which blends into a strong breathing
sound of "h," the lips are compressed at the sides, and the aperture of
the mouth is nearly round. It is not difficult to imitate, and the ape
readily understands it even when poorly made.
Another sound of frequent use among them is that used for calling. The
vowel element is nearly the same, though slightly sharpened, and merges
into a distinct vanishing "w." The food sound is often repeated two or
three times in succession, but the call is rarely ever repeated, except
at long intervals.
One sound is particularly soft and musical, the vowel element is that
of long "u" as in the German. This blends into a "w," followed by the
slightest suggestion of the short sound of "a." It appears to express
affection or love. This sound is also the first of the series of sounds
attributed to the gorilla.
The most complex sound made by them is the one elsewhere described as
meaning "good." They often use it in a sense very much the same as
mankind uses the word "thanks," but it is not probable that they use it
as a polite term, yet the same idea is present.
One of the words of warning or alarm contains a vowel element closely
resembling the short sound of "e." It terminates with the breathing
sound of "h." It is used to announce the approach of anything that
he is familiar with, and not afraid of. If the sound is intended to
warn against the approach of an enemy, or something strange, the same
vowel element is used, but terminates with the aspirate sound of "h"
pronounced with energy and distinctness. The two words are the same in
vowel quality, but they differ in the time required to utter them, and
the final breathing and aspirate effects. There is also a difference
in the manner of the speaker in the act of delivering the word, which
plainly indicates that he knows the use and value of the sounds. At
the approach of danger the latter is often given almost in a whisper,
and at long intervals apart, but increases in loudness as the danger
approaches; the other is usually spoken distinctly and repeated
frequently. It is worthy of note that the native tribes often use the
same word in the same manner and for the same purpose.
There are other sounds which are easily identified but difficult to
describe, such as that used to signify "cold" or "discomfort"; another
for "drink"; another referring to "illness," and still another which I
have good reason to believe means "dead" or "death." There are perhaps
a dozen more that I can distinguish, but have not yet been able to
determine their meaning. I have an opinion as to some of them which I
have not yet verified.
The chimpanzee makes use of a few signs which seem to be fixed factors
of expression. He makes a negative sign by moving the head from side to
side, but the gesture is not frequent or pronounced. Another negative
sign, which is more common, is a motion of the hand from the body
towards the person or thing addressed. This sign is sometimes made
with great emphasis, and there can be no question as to what it means.
The manner of making the sign is not uniform. Sometimes it is done
by an urgent motion of the hand. Bringing it from his opposite side,
with the back forward, it is waved towards any one approaching, if the
ape object to the approach. The same sign is often made as a refusal
of anything offered him. Another way of making this sign is with the
arm extended forward, the hand hanging down, and the back towards the
person approaching or the thing refused. In addition to these negative
signs there is one which may be regarded as affirmative. It is made
simply by extending one arm towards the person or thing desired. It
sometimes serves the purpose of beckoning; but in this act there is no
motion of the hand. These signs are similar in character to those used
by men, and appear to be innate.
It must not be inferred from this small list of words and signs that
there is nothing left to learn. So far we have only taken the first
step as it were in the study of the speech of apes. As we grow more
familiar with their sounds, it becomes less difficult to understand
them. I have not been disappointed in what I hoped to learn from these
animals. The total number of words in the speech of all simians that
I have learned up to this time is about one hundred. I have given no
attention of late to the small monkeys, but I shall resume the task at
some future day, as it forms a part of the work I have assumed, but all
of that is described in a work already published.
In conclusion, I will say that the sounds uttered by these apes have
all the characteristics of true speech. The speaker is conscious of
the meaning of the sound used, and uses it with the definite purpose
of conveying an idea to the one addressed; the sound is always
addressed to some definite one, and the speaker usually looks at the
one addressed; he regulates the pitch and volume of the voice to suit
the condition under which it is used; he knows the value of sound as a
medium of thought. These and many other facts show that they are truly
speech.
If these apes were placed under domestication, and kept there as long
as the dog has been, he would be as far superior to the dog in sagacity
as he is by nature above the wild progenitors of the canine race.
CHAPTER VII
THE CAPTURE AND CHARACTER OF MOSES
During my sojourn in the forest, I had a fine, young chimpanzee, which
was of ordinary intelligence, and of more than ordinary interest,
because of his history.
I gave him the name Moses, not in derision of the historic Israelite of
that name, but because of the circumstances of his capture and life.
He was found all alone in a wild papyrus swamp of the Ogowe River. No
one knew who his parents were, or how he ever came to be left in that
dismal place. The low bush in which he was crouched when discovered
was surrounded by water, and the poor little waif was cut off from the
adjacent dry land.
As the native who captured him approached, the timid little ape tried
to climb up among the vines above him, and escape, but the agile hunter
seized him before he could do so. At first the chimpanzee screamed,
and struggled to get away, because he had perhaps never before seen a
man, but when he found that he was not going to be hurt, he put his
frail arms around his captor, and clung to him as a friend. Indeed,
he seemed glad to be rescued from such a dreary place, even by such a
strange creature as a man.
For a moment the man feared that the cries of his young prisoner might
call its mother to the rescue, and possibly a band of others; but if
she heard them, she did not respond, so he tied the baby captive with
a thong of bark, put him into his canoe, and brought him away to the
village, where he supplied him with food, and made him quite cosy.
The next day he was sold to a trader. About this time I passed up the
river on my way to the jungle in search of the gorilla and other apes.
Stopping at the station of the trader, I bought him, and took him along
with me. We soon became the best of friends and constant companions.
It was supposed that the mother chimpanzee left her babe in the tree
while she went off in search of food, and wandered so far away that she
lost her bearings and could not again find him. He appeared to have
been for a long time without food, and may have been crouching there
in the forks of that tree for a day or two; but such was only inferred
from his hunger, as there was no way to determine how long he had
remained, or even how he got there.
I designed to bring Moses up in the way that good chimpanzees ought to
be brought up, so I began to teach him good manners in the hope that
some day he would be a shining light to his race, and aid me in my work
among them. To that end I took great care of him, and devoted much
time to the study of his natural manners, and to improving them as much
as his nature would allow.
I built him a neat little house within a few feet of my cage. It was
enclosed with a thin cloth, and had a curtain hung at the door, to keep
out mosquitoes and other insects. It was supplied with plenty of soft,
clean leaves, and some canvas bed-clothing. It was covered over with a
bamboo roof, and suspended a few feet from the ground, so as to keep
out the ants.
Moses soon learned to adjust the curtain, and go to bed without my
aid. He would lie in bed in the morning until he heard me or the boy
stirring about the cage, when he would poke his little black head out,
and begin to jabber for his breakfast. Then he would climb out, and
come to the cage to see what was going on.
He was not confined at all, but quite at liberty to go about in the
forest, climb the trees and bushes, and have a good time of it. He was
jealous of the boy, and the boy was jealous of him, especially when it
came to a question of eating. Neither of them seemed to want the other
to eat anything that they mutually liked, and I had to act as umpire in
many of their disputes on that grave subject, which seemed to be the
central thought of both of them.
I frequently allowed Moses to dine with me, and I never knew him to
refuse, or to be late in coming on such occasions, but his table
etiquette was not of the best order. I gave him a tin plate and a
wooden spoon, but he did not like to use the latter, and seemed to
think that it was pure affectation for any one to eat with such an
awkward thing. He always held it in one hand, while he ate with the
other, or drank his soup out of the plate.
It was such a task to get washing done in that part of the world, that
I resorted to all means of economy in that matter, and for a tablecloth
I used a leaf of newspaper, when I had it. To tear that paper afforded
Moses an amount of pleasure that nothing else would, and in this act
his conduct was more like that of a naughty child than in anything he
did.
When he would first take his place at the table, he behaved in a nice
and becoming manner; but having eaten till he was quite satisfied, he
usually became rude and saucy. He would slily put his foot up over the
edge of the table, and catch hold of the corner of the paper, meanwhile
watching me closely, to see if I was going to scold him. If I remained
quiet he would tear it just a little and wait to see the result. If
no notice was taken of that, he would tear it a little more, but keep
watching my face to see when I observed it. If I raised my finger
to him, he quickly let go, drew his foot down, and began to eat. If
nothing more was done to stop him, the instant my finger and eyes were
dropped, that dexterous foot was back on the table and the mischief
resumed with more audacity than before.
When he carried his fun too far, I made him get down from the table
and sit on the floor. This humiliation he did not like at best, but
when the boy would grin at him for it, he would resent it with as much
temper as if he had been poked with a stick. He certainly was sensitive
on this point, and evinced an undoubted dislike to being laughed at.
Another habit that Moses had was putting his fingers in the dish to
help himself. He had to be watched all the time to prevent this, and
seemed unable to grasp any reason why he should not be allowed to do
so. He always appeared to think my spoon, knife and fork were better
than his own spoon. On one occasion he persisted in begging for my
fork until I gave it to him. He dipped it into his soup, held it up,
and looked at it as if disappointed. He again stuck it into his soup,
and then examined it, as if to see how I lifted my food with it. He
did not seem to notice that I used it in lifting meat instead of soup.
After repeating this three or four times, he licked the fork, smelt it,
and then deliberately threw it on the floor, as if to say, "That's a
failure." He leaned over and drank his soup from the plate.
The only thing that he cared much to play with was a tin can that I
kept some nails in. For this he had a kind of mania, and never tired
of trying to remove the lid. When given the hammer and a nail, he knew
what they were for, and would set to work to drive the nail into the
floor of the cage or the table; but he hurt his fingers a few times,
and after that he stood the nail on its flat head, removed his fingers
and struck it with the hammer, but, of course, never succeeded in
driving it into anything.
A bunch of sugar-cane was kept for Moses to eat when he wanted it, and
to aid him in tearing the hard shell away from it, I kept a club to
bruise it. Sometimes he would go and select a stalk of the cane, carry
it to the block, take the club in both hands, and try to mash the cane
himself; but as the jar of the stroke often hurt his hands, he learned
to avoid this, by letting go as the club descended. He never succeeded
in crushing the cane, but would continue his efforts until some one
came to his aid. At other times he would drag a stalk of the cane to
the cage, poke it through the wires, then bring the club, and poke it
through, to get me to mash it for him.
From time to time I received newspapers sent me from home. Moses could
not understand what induced me to sit holding that thing before me,
but he wished to try it, and see. He would take a leaf of it, and hold
it up before him with both hands, just as he saw me do; but instead of
looking at the paper, he kept his eyes, most of the time, on me. When
I would turn mine over, he did the same thing, but half the time had
it upside down. He did not appear to care for the pictures, or notice
them, except a few times he tried to pick them off the paper; and one
large cut of a dog's head, when held at a short distance from him, he
appeared to regard with a little interest, as if he recognised it as
that of an animal of some kind, but I cannot say just what his ideas
concerning it really were.
Chimpanzees are not usually so playful or funny as monkeys, but they
have a certain degree of mirth in their nature, and at times display a
marked sense of humour.
One thing that Moses liked was to play peek-a-boo with me or the boy.
He did not try to conceal his body from view, but would hide his eyes,
and then peep. A favourite time for this was in the early part of the
afternoon. He would often go and put his head behind a large tin box in
the cage, while his whole body was visible. In this attitude he would
utter a series of peculiar sounds, then draw his head out, and look at
me, to see if I was watching him. If not, he would repeat the act a few
times, and then hunt something else to amuse himself with. But if he
could gain attention, the romp began, and he found great pleasure in
this simple pastime. He would roll over, kick up his heels, and grin,
with evident delight.
I spent much time in entertaining him in this way, and felt amply
repaid for it in the gratification it afforded him. I could not resist
his overtures to play, as he was my companion and my friend, and,
living in that solitary gloom, it was a mutual pleasure.
Another occasion on which he used to peep at me was when he lay down to
take his midday nap. For this I had made him a little hammock, which
was suspended by wires, so that it could be removed when not in use. I
always hung this by my side in the cage, so I could swing him to sleep
like a child. He liked this, and I liked to indulge him. When he was
laid in it, he was usually covered up with a small piece of canvas, and
in spreading it over him, I frequently laid the edge of it over his
eyes, but he seemed to suspect me of having some motive in doing so.
Often he would reach his fingers up, catch the edge of the cloth, and
gently draw it down, so he could see what I was doing. If he saw that
he was detected, he would quickly release it, and cuddle down, as if it
had been done by accident; but the little rogue knew, just as well as I
did, what it meant to peep.
I also made him another hammock, and hung it out a few yards from the
cage, so he could get into it without bothering me; but he never cared
for it, until I brought a young gorilla to live with us in our jungle
home, and as Moses never used it, I assigned it to the new member of
the household. Whenever the gorilla got into it there was a small row
about it. Moses would never allow him to occupy it in peace. He seemed
to know that it was his own by right, and the gorilla was regarded
as an intruder. He would push and shove the gorilla, grunt and whine
and quarrel, until he got him out of it; but after doing so he would
leave it, and climb up into a bush, or go away to hunt something to
eat. He only wanted to dispossess the intruder, for whom he nursed an
inordinate jealousy. He never went near the gorilla's little house,
which was on the opposite side of the cage from his own; even after
the gorilla died, he kept aloof from it.
As a rule, I always took Moses with me in my rambles into the forest,
and I found him to be quite useful in one way. His eyes were like the
lens of a camera--nothing escaped them; and when he discovered anything
in the jungle, he always made it known by a peculiar sound. He could
not point it out with his finger, but by watching his eyes the object
could often be located.
Frequently during these tours the ape rode on my shoulders, and at
other times the boy carried him, but occasionally he was put down on
the ground to walk. If we travelled at a very slow pace, and allowed
him to stroll along at leisure, he was content to do so, but if hurried
beyond a certain gait he always made a display of his temper. He would
turn on the boy and attack him, if possible; but if the boy escaped,
the angry little ape would throw himself down on the ground, scream,
kick, and beat the earth with his own head and hands in the most
violent and persistent manner. He sometimes did the same way when not
allowed to have what he wanted. His conduct was exactly like that of a
spoiled, ugly child.
He had a certain amount of ingenuity, and often evinced a degree of
reason which was rather unexpected. It was not a rare thing for him
to solve some problem that involved a study of cause and effect, but
always in a limited degree. I would not be understood to mean that he
could work out any abstract problem, such as belongs to the realm
of mathematics, but simple, concrete problems, where the object was
present.
On one occasion, while walking through the forest we came to a small
stream of water. The boy and myself stepped across it, leaving Moses
to get over it without help. He disliked getting his feet wet, and
paused to be lifted across. We walked a few steps away, and waited. He
looked up and down the branch to see if there was any way to avoid it.
He walked back and forth a few yards, but found no way to cross it.
He sat down on the bank, and declined to wade it. After a few moments
he waddled along the bank, about ten or twelve feet, to a clump of
tall slender bushes growing by the edge of the stream. Here he halted,
whined, and looked up into them thoughtfully. At length he began to
climb one of them that leaned over the water. As he climbed up, the
stalk bent with his weight, and in an instant he was swung safely
across the little brook. He let go the plant, and came hobbling along
to me with a look of triumph on his face that plainly indicated that he
was fully conscious of having performed a very clever feat.
One dark, rainy night I felt something pulling at my blanket and
mosquito bar. I could not for a moment imagine what it was, but knew
that it was something on the outside of my cage. I lay for a few
seconds, and felt another strong pull at them. In an instant some cold,
damp, rough thing touched my face, and I found it was his hand poked
through the meshes and groping about for something. I spoke to him,
and he replied with a series of plaintive sounds which assured me that
something must be wrong.
I arose, and lighted a candle. His little brown face was pressed up
against the wires, and wore a sad, weary look. He could not tell me
in words what troubled him, but every sign, look, and gesture bespoke
trouble. Taking the candle in one hand, and my revolver in the other,
I stepped out of the cage and went to his domicile, where I discovered
that a colony of ants had invaded his quarters.
These ants are a great pest when they attack anything, and when they
make a raid on a house the only thing to be done is to leave it until
they have devoured everything about it that they can eat. When they
leave a house there is not a roach, rat, bug, or insect left in it.
As the house of Moses was so small, it was not difficult to dispossess
them by saturating it with kerosene, which was quickly done, and
the little occupant allowed to return and go to bed. He watched the
procedure with evident interest, and seemed perfectly aware that I
could rid him of his savage assailants. In a wild state he would
doubtless have abandoned his claim, and fled to some other place
without an attempt to drive them away, but in this instance he had
acquired the idea of the rights of possession.
Moses was especially fond of corned beef and sardines, and would
recognise a can of either as far away as he could see it. He also
knew the instrument used in opening them, but he did not appear to
appreciate the fact that when the contents had once been taken out it
was useless to open the can again, so he often brought the empty cans
that had been thrown into the bush, would get the can-opener down, and
want me to use it for him. I never saw him try to open it himself,
except with his fingers. Sometimes, when about to prepare my own meals,
I would open the case in which I kept stored a supply of canned meats,
and allow Moses to select one for the purpose. He never failed to pull
out one of the cans of beef, bearing the red and blue label. If I put
it back he would select the same kind, and could not be deceived in his
choice. It was not accidental, because he would hunt for one until he
found it.
I don't know what he thought when it was not served for dinner, as I
often exchanged it for another kind without consulting him.
I kept my supply of water in a large jug, which was placed in the shade
of the bushes near the cage. I also kept a small pan for Moses to drink
out of. He would sometimes ask for water, by using his own word for it.
He would place his pan by the side of the jug and repeat the sound a
few times. If he was not attended to he proceeded to help himself. He
could take the cork out of the jug quite as well as I could. He would
then put his eye to the mouth of it, and look down into the vessel to
see if there was any water. Of course the shadow of his head would
darken the interior of the jug so that he could not see anything. Then
removing his eye from the mouth of it, he would poke his hand in it,
but I reproved him for this until I broke him of the habit. After a
careful examination of the jug he would try to pour the water out. He
knew how it ought to be done, but was not able to handle the vessel
himself. He always placed the pan on the lower side of the jug; then
leaned the jug towards it and let go. He would rarely ever get the
water into the pan, but always turned the jug with the neck down grade.
As a hydraulic engineer he was not a great success, but he certainly
knew the first principles of the science.
I tried to teach Moses to be cleanly, but it was a hard task. He would
listen to my precepts as if they had made a deep impression, but he
would not wash his hands of his own accord. He would permit me or the
boy to wash them, but when it came to taking a bath, or even wetting
his face, he was a rank heretic on the subject, and no amount of
logic would convince him that he needed it. When he was given a bath,
he would scream and fight during the whole process; and when it was
finished he would climb up on the roof of the cage and spread himself
out in the sun. This was the only occasion on which I ever knew him to
get up on the roof. I don't know why he disliked it so much. He did not
mind getting wet in the rain, but rather seemed to like that.
He had a great dislike for ants and certain large bugs. Whenever one
came near him he would talk like a magpie, and brush at it with his
hands until he got rid of it. He always used a certain sound for this
kind of annoyance; it differed slightly from those I have described as
warning.
Moses tried to be honest, but he was affected with a species of
kleptomania, and could not resist the temptation to purloin anything
that came in his way. The small stove upon which I prepared my food was
placed on a shelf in one corner of the cage, about half-way between the
floor and the top. Whenever anything was set on the stove to cook, he
had to be watched to keep him from climbing up the side of the cage,
reaching his arm through the meshes and stealing it. He was sometimes
very persevering in this matter. One day I set a tin can of water on
the stove to heat in order to make some coffee; he silently climbed up,
reached his hand through, stuck it in the can, and began to search for
anything it might contain. I threw out the water, refilled the can, and
drove him away. In a few minutes he returned and repeated the act. I
had a piece of canvas hung up on the outside of the cage to keep him
away. The can of water was placed on the stove for the third time,
but within a minute he found his way by climbing up under the curtain
between it and the cage. I determined to teach him a lesson. He was
allowed to explore the can, but finding nothing he withdrew his hand,
and sat there clinging to the side of the cage. Again he tried, but
found nothing. The water was getting warmer, but was still not hot. At
length, for the third or fourth time he stuck his hand into it up to
the wrist. By this time the water was so hot that it scalded his hand.
It was not severe enough to do him any harm, but quite enough so for a
good lesson. He jerked his hand out with such violence that he threw
the cup over, and spilt the water all over that side of the cage. From
that time to the end of his life he always refused anything that had
steam or smoke about it. If anything having steam or smoke was offered
him at the table, he would climb down at once and retire from the
scene. Poor little Moses! I knew beforehand what would happen, and I
did not wish to see him hurt, but nothing else would serve to impress
him with the danger and keep him out of mischief.
Anything that he saw me eat he never failed to beg. No matter what he
had himself, he wanted to try everything else that he saw me eat. One
thing in which these apes appear to be wiser than man is, that when
they eat or drink enough to satisfy their wants they quit, while men
sometimes do not. They never drink water or anything else during their
meal, but, having finished it, as a rule they always want something to
drink. The native custom is the same. I have never known the native
African to use any kind of diet drink, but always when he has finished
eating takes a draught of water.
Moses knew the use of nearly all the tools that I carried with me in
the jungle. He could not use them for the purpose they were intended,
and I do not know to what extent he appreciated their use, but he knew
quite well the manner of using them. I have mentioned the incident of
his using the hammer and nails, but he also knew the way to use the
saw; however, he always applied the back of it, because the teeth were
too rough, but he gave it the motion. When allowed to have it, he would
put the back of it across a stick and saw with the energy of a man on
a big salary. When given a file, he would file everything that came in
his way; and if he had applied himself in learning to talk human speech
as closely and with as much zeal as he tried to use my pliers, he would
have succeeded in a very short time.
Whether these creatures are actuated by reason or by instinct in such
acts as I have mentioned, the cavillist may settle for himself; but
it accomplishes the purpose of the actor in a logical and practical
manner, and they are perfectly conscious that it does.
CHAPTER VIII
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MOSES
I know of nothing in the way of affection and loyalty among animals
that can exceed that of my devoted Moses. Not only was he tame and
tractable, but he never tired of caressing me, and being caressed by
me. For hours together he would cling to my neck, play with my ears,
lips and nose, bite my cheek, and hug me like a last hope. He was never
willing for me to put him down from my lap, never willing for me to
leave my cage without him, never willing for me to caress anything else
but himself, and never willing for me to discontinue that. He would cry
and fret for me whenever we were separated, and I must confess that my
absence from him during a journey of three weeks, hastened his sad and
untimely death.
From the second day after we became associated, he appeared to regard
me as the one in authority. He would not resent anything I did to him.
I could take his food out of his hands, which he would permit no one
else to do. He would follow me, and cry after me like a child; and as
time went by his attachment grew stronger and stronger. He gave every
evidence of pleasure at my attentions, and evinced a certain degree
of appreciation and gratitude in return. He would divide any morsel of
food with me, which is, perhaps, the highest test of the affection of
any animal. I cannot say that such an act was genuine benevolence, or
an earnest of affection in a true sense of the term, but nothing except
deep affection or abject fear impels such actions, and certainly fear
was not his motive.
There were others whom he liked and made himself familiar with; there
were some he feared and others he hated; but his manner towards me
was that of deep affection. It was not alone in return for the food
he received, because my boy gave him food more frequently than I did,
and many others from time to time fed him. His attachment was like an
infatuation that had no apparent motive, was unselfish and supreme.
The chief purpose of my living among the animals being to study the
sounds they uttered, I gave strict attention to those made by Moses.
For a time it was difficult to detect more than two or three distinct
sounds, but as I grew more and more familiar with them I could detect a
variety of them, and by constantly watching his actions and associating
them with his sounds I learned to interpret certain ones to mean
certain things.
In the course of my sojourn with him I learned a certain sound that he
always uttered when he saw anything that he was familiar with, such as
a man or a dog, but he could not tell me which of the two it was. If he
saw anything strange to him he could tell me, but not so that I knew
whether it was a snake or a leopard or a monkey, yet I knew that it
was something of that kind. I learned a certain word for food, hunger,
eating, &c., but he could not go into any details about it, except that
a certain sound indicated good or satisfaction, and another meant the
opposite.
Among the sounds that I learned was one that is used by a chimpanzee
in calling another to come to it. Some of the natives assured me that
the mothers always used it in calling their young to them. When Moses
wandered away from the cage into the jungle, he would sometimes call
me with this sound. I cannot express it in letters of the alphabet,
nor describe it so as to give a very clear idea of its character. It
was a single sound or word of one syllable, and easily imitated by the
human voice. At any time that I wanted Moses to come to me I used this
word, and the fact that he always obeyed it by coming confirmed my
opinion as to its meaning. I do not think when he addressed it to me
that he expected me to come to him, but he perhaps wanted to locate me
in order to be guided back to the cage by the sound. As he grew more
familiar with the surrounding forest he used it less frequently, but he
always employed it in calling me or the boy. When he was called by it
he answered with the same sound; but one fact that we noticed was that
if he could see the one who called he never made any reply by sound. He
would obey it, but not answer it; he probably thought if he could see
the one who called that he could be seen by him, and it was therefore
useless to reply.
The speech of these animals is very limited, but it is sufficient
for their purpose. It is none the less real because of its being
restricted, but it is more difficult for man to learn, because his
modes of thought are so much more ample and distinct. Yet when one is
reduced to the necessity of making his wants known in a strange tongue,
he can express many things in a very few words. I have once been thrown
among a tribe of whose language I knew less than fifty words, but with
little difficulty I succeeded in conversing with them on two or three
topics. Much depends upon necessity, and more upon practice. In talking
to Moses I mostly used his own language, and was surprised at times to
see how readily we understood each other. I could repeat about all the
sounds he made except one or two, but I was not able in the time we
were together to interpret all of them. These sounds were more than a
mere series of grunts or whines, and he never confused them in their
meaning. When any one of them was properly delivered to him, he clearly
understood and acted upon it.
It was never any part of my purpose to teach a monkey to talk, but
after I became familiar with the qualities and range of the voice of
Moses, I determined to see if he might not be taught to speak a few
simple words of human speech. To effect this in the easiest way and
shortest time, I carefully observed the movements of his lips and vocal
organs in order to select such words for him to try as were best
adapted to his ability.
I selected the word _mamma_, which may almost be considered a universal
word of human speech; the French word _feu_, fire; the German word
_wie_, howl, and the native Nkami word _nkgwe_, mother. Every day I
took him on my lap and tried to induce him to say one or more of these
words. For a long time he made no effort to learn them, but after
some weeks of persistent labour and a bribe of corned beef, he began
to see dimly what I wanted him to do. The native word quoted is very
similar to one of the sounds of his own speech, which means "good" or
"satisfaction." The vowel element differs in them, and he was not able
in the time he was under tuition to change them, but he distinguished
them from other words.
In his attempt to say _mamma_ he only worked his lips without making
any sound, although he really tried to do so, and I believe that in the
course of time he would have succeeded. He observed the movement of
my lips, and tried to imitate them, but seemed to think that the lips
alone produced the sound.
With _feu_ he succeeded fairly well, except that the consonant element
as he uttered it resembled "v" more than "f," so that the sound was
more like _vu_ making the u short as in "nut." It was quite as perfect
as most people of other tongues ever learn to speak the same word in
French, and if it had been uttered in a sentence, any one knowing that
language would recognise it as meaning fire.
In his efforts to pronounce _wie_ he always gave the vowel element like
German "u" with the _umlaut_, but the "w" element was more like the
English than the German sound of that letter.
Taking into consideration the fact that he was only a little more than
a year old, and was in training less than three months, his progress
was all that could have been desired, and vastly more than had been
hoped for. Had he lived until this time, it is my belief that he would
have mastered these and other words of human speech to the satisfaction
of the most exacting linguist. If he had only learned one word in a
whole lifetime, he would have shown at least that the race is capable
of being improved and elevated in some degree.
Another experiment that I tried with him was one that I had used before
in testing the ability of a monkey to distinguish forms. I cut a round
hole in one end of a board and a square hole in the other, and made a
block to fit into each one of them. The blocks were then given to him
to see if he could fit them into the proper holes. After being shown
a few times how to do this, he fitted them in without difficulty; but
when he was not rewarded for the task by receiving a morsel of corned
beef or a sardine, he did not care to work for the fun alone.
In colours he had but little choice, unless it was something to eat,
but he could distinguish them with ease if the shades were pronounced.
I had no means of testing his taste for music or sense of musical
sounds.
I must here take occasion to mention one incident in the life of Moses
that never perhaps occurred before in the life of any other chimpanzee,
and while it may not be of scientific value, it is at least amusing.
While living in the jungle, I received a letter enclosing a contract to
be signed by myself and a witness. Having no means of finding a witness
to sign the paper, I called Moses from the bushes, placed him at the
table, gave him a pen and had him sign the document as witness. He
did not write his name himself, as he had not yet mastered the art of
writing, but he made his cross mark between the names, as many a good
man had done before him. I wrote in the blank the name,
_His_
"MOSES X NTYIGO"
_mark_;
the cross mark omitted, and had him with his own hand make the cross as
it is legally done by all people who cannot write. With this signature
the contract was returned in good faith to stand the test of the law
courts of civilisation, and thus for the first time in the history of
the race a chimpanzee signed his name.
When I prepared to start on a journey across the Esyira country it was
not practicable for me to take Moses along, so I arranged to leave him
in charge of a missionary. Shortly after my departure the man was taken
with fever, and the chimpanzee was left to the care of a native boy
belonging to the mission. The little prisoner was kept confined by a
small rope attached to his cage in order to keep him out of mischief.
It was during the dry season, when the dews are heavy and the nights
chilly, as the winds at that season are fresh and frequent.
Within a week after leaving him he contracted a severe cold, which soon
developed into acute pulmonary troubles of a complex type, and he began
to decline. After an absence of three weeks and three days, I returned
to find him in a condition beyond the reach of treatment. He was
emaciated to a living skeleton: his eyes were sunken deep into their
orbits, and his steps were feeble and tottering; his voice was hoarse
and piping; his appetite was gone, and he was utterly indifferent to
anything around him.
During my journey I had secured a companion for him, and when I
disembarked from the canoe, I hastened to him with this new addition
to our little family. I had not been told that he was ill, and was not
prepared to see him looking so ghastly.
When he discovered me approaching, he rose up and began to call me as
he had been wont to do before I left him, but his weak voice was like
a death-knell to my ears. My heart sunk within me as I saw him trying
to reach out his long, bony arms to welcome my return. Poor, faithful
Moses! I could not repress the tears of pity and regret at this sudden
change, for to me it was the work of a moment. I had last seen him in
the vigour of a strong and robust youth, but now I beheld him in the
decrepitude of a feeble senility. What a transformation!
I diagnosed his case as well as I was able and began to treat him,
but it was evident that he was too far gone to expect him to recover.
My conscience smote me for having left him, yet I felt that I had not
done wrong. It was not neglect or cruelty for me to leave him while I
went in pursuit of the chief object of my search, and I had no cause
to reproach myself for having done so. But emotions that are stirred
by such incidents are not to be controlled by reason or hushed by
argument, and the pain that it caused me was more than I can tell.
If I had done wrong, the only restitution possible for me to make was
to nurse him patiently and tenderly to the end, or till health and
strength should return. This was conscientiously done, and I have the
comfort of knowing that the last sad days of his life were soothed
by every care that kindness could suggest. Hour after hour during
that time he lay silent and content upon my lap. That appeared to be
a panacea to all his pains. He would roll his dark brown eyes up and
look into my face, as if to be assured that I had been restored to him.
With his long fingers he stroked my face as if to say that he was again
happy. He took the medicines I gave him as if he knew their purpose and
effect.
His suffering was not intense, but he bore it like a philosopher. He
seemed to have some vague idea of his own condition, but I do not know
that he foresaw the result. He lingered on from day to day for a whole
week, slowly sinking and growing feebler, but his love for me was
manifest to the last, and I dare confess that I returned it with all my
heart.
Is it wrong that I should requite such devotion and fidelity with
reciprocal emotion? No. I should not deserve the love of any creature
if I were indifferent to the love of Moses. That affectionate little
creature had lived with me in the dismal shadows of that primeval
forest for so many long days and dreary nights; had romped and played
with me when far away from the pleasures of home, and had been a
constant friend alike through sunshine and storm. To say that I did not
love him would be to confess myself an ingrate unworthy of my race.
The last spark of life passed away in the night. It was not attended by
acute pain or struggling, but, falling into a deep and quiet sleep, he
woke no more.
Moses will live in history. He deserves to do so, because he was the
first of his race that ever spoke a word of human speech; because he
was the first that ever conversed in his own language with a human
being; and because he was the first that ever signed his name to any
document; and Fame will not deny him a niche in her temple among the
heroes who have led the races of the world.
CHAPTER IX
AARON
Having arranged my affairs in Fernan Vaz so as to make a journey across
the great forest that lies to the south of the Nkami country and
separates it from that of the Esyira tribe, I set out by canoe to a
point on the Rembo about three days from the place where I had so long
lived in my cage. At a village called Tyimba I disembarked, and after a
journey of five days and a delay of three more days caused by an attack
of fever, I arrived at a trading station near the head of a small river
called Ndogo. It empties into the sea at Sette Kama, about four degrees
south of the equator. The trading post is about a hundred miles inland,
at a native village called Ntyi-ne-nye-ni, which, strange to say, means
in the native tongue, "Some other place."
[Illustration: TRADING STATION IN THE INTERIOR]
About the time I reached here, two Esyira hunters came from a distant
village, and brought with them a smart young chimpanzee of the
kind known in that country as the _kulu-kamba_. He was quite the
finest specimen of his race that I have ever seen. His frank, open
countenance, big brown eyes and shapely physique, free from mark or
blemish of any kind, would attract the notice of any one who was not
absolutely stupid.
It is not derogatory to the memory of Moses that I should say this,
nor does it lessen my affection for him. Our passions are not moved
by visible forces nor measured by fixed units: they disdain all laws
of logic, and spurn the narrow bounds of reason; they obey no code of
ethics that can be defined, and conform to no theory of action.
As soon as I saw this little ape I expressed a desire to own him, so
the trader in charge bought him and presented him to me. As it was
intended that he should be the friend and ally of Moses, although not
his brother, we conferred upon him the name of Aaron, as the two names
are so intimately associated in history that the mention of one always
suggests the other.
Aaron was captured in the Esyira jungle by these same hunters, about
one day's journey from the place where I secured him; and in this event
began a series of sad scenes in the brief but varied life of this
little hero that seldom come within the experience of any creature.
At the time of his capture his mother was killed in the act of
defending him from the cruel hunters, and when she fell to the earth,
mortally wounded, this brave little fellow stood by her trembling body,
defending it against her slayers, until he was overcome by superior
force, seized by his captors, bound with strips of bark, and carried
away into captivity.
No human can refrain from admiring his conduct in this act, whether it
was prompted by the instinct of self-preservation or by a sentiment of
loyalty to his mother, for he was exercising that prime law of nature
which actuates all creatures to defend themselves against attack, and
his wild, young heart throbbed with like sensations to those of a human
under a like ordeal.
I do not wish to appear sentimental by offering a rebuke to those who
indulge in the sport of hunting, but much cruelty could be obviated
without losing any of the pleasure of the hunt, and I have always made
it a rule to spare the mother with her young. Whether animals feel
the same degree of mental and physical pain as man or not, they do,
in these tragic moments, evince a certain amount of concern for one
another, which imparts a tinge of sympathy that must appeal to any one
who is not devoid of every sense of mercy.
It is true that it is often difficult, and sometimes impossible,
to secure the young by other means; but the manner of getting them
often mars the pleasure of having them, and while Aaron was, to me, a
charming pet and a valuable subject for study, I confess the story of
his capture always touched me in a tender spot.
I may here mention that the few chimpanzees that reach the civilised
parts of the world are but a small percentage of the great number that
are captured. Some die on their way to the coast, others die after
reaching it, and scores of them die on board the ships to which they
are consigned for various ports of Europe and other countries. It is
not often from neglect or cruelty, but usually from a change of food,
climate, or condition, yet the creature suffers just the same whether
the cause is from design or accident. One fruitful source of death
among them is pulmonary trouble of various types.
One look at the portrait of Aaron will impress any one with the high
mental qualities of this little captive, but to see and study him in
life would convince a heretic of his superior character. In every look
and gesture there was a touch of the human that no one could fail to
observe. The range of facial expression surpassed that of any other
animal I have ever studied. In repose, his quaint face wore a look of
wisdom becoming to a sage; while in play it was crowned with a grin of
genuine mirth. The deep, searching look he gave to a stranger was a
study for the psychologist, while the serious, earnest look of inquiry
when he was perplexed would amuse a stoic. All these changing moods
were depicted in his mobile face, with such intensity as to leave
no room to doubt the activity of certain faculties of the mind in a
degree far beyond that of animals in general; and his conduct, in many
instances, showed the exercise of mental powers of a higher order than
that limited agency known as instinct.
In addition to these facts, his voice was of better quality and more
flexible than that of any other specimen I have ever known. It was
clear and smooth in uttering sounds of any pitch within its scope,
while the voices of most of them are inclined to be harsh or husky,
especially in sounds of high pitch.
Before leaving the village where I secured him, I made a kind of sling
for him to be carried in. It consisted of a short canvas sack with
two holes cut in the bottom for his legs to pass through. To the top
of this was attached a broad band of the same cloth by which to hang
it over the head of the carrier boy to whom the little prisoner was
consigned. This afforded the ape a comfortable seat, and at the same
time reduced the labour of carrying him. It left his arms and legs
free, so he could change his position and rest, while it also allowed
the boy the use of his own hands in passing any difficult place in the
jungle along the way.
[Illustration: PLAIN AND EDGE OF THE FOREST]
From there to the Rembo was a journey of five days on foot. Along the
way were a few straggling villages, but most of the route lay through
a wild and desolate forest, traversed by low broad marshes, through
which wind shallow sloughs of filthy greenish water, seeking its way
among bending roots and fallen leaves. From the foul bosom of these
marshes rise the effluvia of decaying plants, breeding pestilence and
death. Here and there across the dreary tracts is found the trail
of elephants, where the great beasts have broken their tortuous way
through the dense barriers of bush and vine. These trails serve as
roads for the native traveller, and afford the only way of crossing
these otherwise trackless jungles.
The only means of passing these dismal swamps is to wade through the
thin slimy mud, often more than knee-deep, and sometimes extending many
hundred feet in width, intercepted at almost every step by the tangled
roots of mangrove-trees under foot, or clusters of vines hanging from
the boughs overhead.
Such was the route we came, but Aaron did not realise how severe the
task of his carrier was in trudging his way through such places, and
the little rogue often added to the labour by seizing hold of limbs
or vines that hung within his reach in passing, and thus retarded the
progress of the boy, who strongly protested against the ape amusing
himself in this manner. The latter seemed to know of no reason why he
should not do so, and the former did not deign to give one, and so the
quarrel went on until we reached the river, but by that time each of
them had imbibed a hatred for the other that nothing in the future ever
allayed. Neither of them ever forgot it while they were associated,
and both of them evinced their aversion on all occasions. The boy gave
vent to his dislike by making ugly faces at the ape, which the latter
resented by screaming and trying to bite him. Aaron refused to eat any
food given him by the boy, and the boy would not give him a morsel
except when required to do so. At times the feud became ridiculous, and
it only ended in their final separation. The last time I ever saw the
boy I asked him if he wanted to go with me to my country to take care
of Aaron, but he shook his head, and said, "He's a bad man."
This was the only person for whom I ever knew Aaron to conceive a deep
and bitter dislike, but the boy he hated with his whole heart.
On my return to Fernan Vaz, where I had left Moses, I found him in a
feeble state of health as related elsewhere. When Aaron was set down
before him, he merely gave the little stranger a casual glance, but
held out his long lean arms for me to take him in mine. His wish was
gratified, and I indulged him in a long stroll. When we returned I
set him down by the side of his new friend, who evinced every sign of
pleasure and interest. He was like a small boy when there is a new baby
in the house. He cuddled up close to Moses and made many overtures to
become friends, but while the latter did not repel them he treated them
with indifference. Aaron tried in many ways to attract his attention,
or to elicit some sign of approval, but it was in vain.
No doubt the manners of Moses were due to his health, and Aaron seemed
to realise it. He sat for a long time, holding a banana in his hand,
and looking with evident concern into the face of his little sick
cousin. At length he lifted the fruit to the lips of the invalid and
uttered a low sound, but the kindness was not accepted. The act was
purely one of his own volition, in which he was not prompted by any
suggestion from others, and every look and motion indicated a desire to
relieve or comfort his friend. His manner was gentle and humane, and
his face was an image of pity.
Failing to get any sign of attention from Moses, he moved up closer to
his side and put his arms around him in the same manner that he is seen
in the picture with Elisheba.
During the days that followed, he sat hour after hour in this same
attitude, and refused to allow any one except myself to touch his
patient; but on my approach he always resigned him to me, while he
watched with interest to see what I did for him.
Among other things, I gave him a tabloid of quinine and iron twice
a day. These were dissolved in a little water and given to him in a
small tin cup which was kept for the purpose. When not in use, it was
hung upon a tall post. Aaron soon learned to know the use of it, and
whenever I would go to Moses, he would climb up the post and bring me
the cup to administer the medicine.
It is not to be inferred that he knew anything about the nature or
effect of the medicine, but he knew the use, and the only use, to which
that cup was put.
During the act of administering the medicine, Aaron displayed a marked
interest in the matter, and seemed to realise that it was intended for
the good of the patient. He would sit close up to one side of the sick
one and watch every movement of his face, as if to see what effect
was being produced, while the changing expressions of his own visage
plainly showed that he was not passive to the actions of the patient.
While I was present with the sick one, Aaron appeared to feel a certain
sense of relief from the care of him, and frequently went climbing
about as if to rest and recreate himself by a change of routine. While
I would take Moses for a walk, or sit with him on my lap, his little
nurse was perfectly content; but the instant they were left alone,
Aaron would again fold him in his arms as if he felt it a duty to do so.
It was only natural that Moses, in such a state of health, should
be cross and peevish at times, as people in a like condition are;
but during the time I never once saw Aaron resent anything he did,
or display the least ill-temper towards him, but, on the contrary,
his conduct was so patient and forbearing that it was hard to forego
the belief that it was prompted by the same motives of kindness and
sympathy that move the human heart to deeds of tenderness and mercy.
At night, when they were put to rest, they lay cuddled up in each
other's arms, and in the morning they were always found in the same
close embrace; but on the morning Moses died, the conduct of Aaron was
unlike anything I had observed before. When I approached their snug
little house and drew aside the curtain, I found him sitting in one
corner of the cage. His face wore a look of concern as if he was aware
that something awful had occurred. When I opened the door, he neither
moved nor uttered any sound. I do not know whether or not they have any
name for death, but they surely know what it is.
Moses was dead. His cold body lay in its usual place, but was
entirely covered over with the piece of canvas kept in the cage for
bed-clothing. I do not know whether Aaron had covered him up or not,
but he seemed to realise the situation. I took him by the hand and
lifted him out of the cage, but he was reluctant. I had the body
removed and placed on a bench about thirty feet away, in order to
dissect and prepare the skin and skeleton to preserve them. When I
proceeded to do this, I had Aaron confined to the cage, lest he should
annoy and hinder me at the work; but he cried and fretted until he was
released.
It is not meant that he wept or shed tears over the loss of his
companion, for the lachrymal glands and ducts are not developed in
these apes; but they manifest concern and regret which are motives of
the passion of sorrow, but being left alone was the cause of this.
When released, he came and took his seat near the dead body, where he
sat the whole day long and watched the operation.
After this he was never quiet for a moment if he could see or hear me,
until I secured another of his kind for a companion; then his interest
in me abated in a measure, but his affection for me remained intact.
His conduct towards Moses always impressed me with the belief that he
appreciated the fact that he was in distress or pain, and while he may
not have foreseen the result, he certainly knew what death was when he
saw it. Whether it is instinct or reason that causes man to shrink from
death, the same influence works to the same end in the ape; and the
demeanour of this same ape towards his later companion, Elisheba, only
confirmed the opinion.
CHAPTER X
AARON AND ELISHEBA
Four days after the death of Moses I secured a passage on a
trading-boat that came into the lake. It was a small affair, intended
for towing canoes, and not in any way prepared to carry passengers
or cargo; but I found room in one of the canoes to set the cage I
had provided for Aaron, stowed the rest of my effects wherever space
permitted, and embarked for the coast.
Our progress was slow and the journey tedious, as the only passage
out of the lake at that season was through a long, narrow, winding
creek, beset by sand-bars, rocks, logs, and snags, and in some places
overhung by low, bending trees. But the wild, weird scenery was grand
and beautiful. Long lines of bamboo, broken here and there by groups
of pendanus or stately palms; islands of lilies and long sweeps of
papyrus, spreading away from the banks on either side; the gorgeous
foliage of aquatic plants drooping along the margin like a massive
fringe, and relieved by clumps of tall, waving grass, formed a perfect
Eden for the birds and monkeys that dwell among those scenes of an
eternal summer.
After a delay of eight days at Cape Lopez, we secured passage on a
small French gunboat, called the _Komo_, by which we came to Gaboon,
where I found another _kulu-kamba_ in the hands of a generous friend,
Mr. Adolph Strohm, who presented her to me; and I gave her to Aaron
as a wife, and called her Elisheba, after the name of the wife of the
great high-priest.
Elisheba was captured on the head-waters of the Mguni river, in about
the same latitude that Aaron was found in, but more than a hundred
miles to the east of that point and a few minutes north of it. I did
not learn the history of her capture.
It would be difficult to find any two human beings more unlike in
taste and temperament than these two apes were. Aaron was one of the
most amiable of creatures; he was affectionate and faithful to those
who treated him kindly; he was merry and playful by nature, and often
evinced a marked sense of humour; he was fond of human society, and
strongly averse to solitude or confinement.
Elisheba was a perfect shrew, and often reminded me of certain women
that I have seen who had soured on the world. She was treacherous,
ungrateful, and cruel in every thought and act; she was utterly devoid
of affection; she was selfish, sullen, and morose at all times; she was
often vicious and always obstinate; she was indifferent to caresses,
and quite as well content when alone as in the best of company.
[Illustration: A NATIVE CANOE]
It is true that she was in poor health, and had been badly treated
before she fell into my hands, but she was by nature endowed with a
bad temper and depraved instincts.
It is not at all rare to see a vast difference of manners,
intelligence, and temperament among specimens that belong to one
species. In these respects they vary as much in proportion to their
mental scope as human beings do; but I have never seen, in any two
apes of the same species, the two extremes so widely removed from one
another.
While waiting at Gaboon for a steamer I had my own cage erected for
them to live in, as it was large and gave them ample room for play and
exercise. In one corner of it was suspended a small, cosy house for
them to sleep in. It was furnished with a good supply of clean straw
and some pieces of canvas for bed-clothes. In the centre of the cage
was a swing, or trapeze, for them to use at their pleasure.
Aaron found this a means of amusement, and often indulged in a series
of gymnastics that would evoke the envy of the king of athletic sports.
Elisheba had no taste for such pastime, but her depravity could never
resist the impulse to interrupt him in his jolly exercise. She would
climb up and contend for possession of the swing until she would drive
him away, when she would perch herself on it and sit there for a time
in stolid content, but would neither swing nor play.
Frequently, when Aaron would lie down quietly on the straw during the
day, she would go into the snug little house and raise a row with him
by pulling the straw from under him, handful at a time, and throwing
it out of the box till there was not one left in it.
No matter what kind or quantity of food was given them, she always
wanted the piece he had, and would fuss with him to get it; but when
she got it, she would sit holding it in her hand without eating it, for
there were some things that he liked which she would not eat at all.
When we went out for a walk, no matter which way we started she always
contended to go some other way; and if I yielded, she would again
change her mind, and start off in some other direction. If forced to
submit, she would scream and struggle as if for life.
I cannot forego the belief that these freaks were due to a base and
perverse nature, and I could find no higher motive in her stubborn
conduct.
Aaron was very fond of her, and rarely ever opposed her inflexible
will. He clung to her, and let her lead the way. I have often felt
vexed at him because he complied so readily with her wishes.
The only case in which he took sides against her was in her conduct
towards me.
When I first secured her she had the temper of a demon, and with the
smallest pretext she would assault me and try to bite me or tear my
clothes. In these attacks Aaron was always with me, and the loyal
little champion would fly at her in the greatest fury. He would strike
her over the head and back with his hands, bite her, and flog her till
she desisted. If she returned the blow he would grasp her hand and
bite it, or strike her in the face. He would continue to fight till she
submitted, when he would celebrate his victory by jumping up and down
in a most grotesque fashion, stamping his feet, slapping his hands on
the ground, and grinning like a mask. He seemed as conscious of what he
had done and as proud of it as any human could have been; but no matter
what she did to others, he was always on her side of the question. If
any one else annoyed her, he would always resent it with violence.
About the premises there were natives all the time passing to and fro,
and these two little captives were objects of special interest to them.
They would stand by the cage hour after hour and watch them. The ruling
impulse of nearly every native appears to be cruelty, and they cannot
resist the temptation to tease and torture anything that is not able
to retaliate. They were so persistent in poking my chimpanzees with
sticks, that I had to keep a boy on watch all the time to prevent it;
but the boy could not be trusted, so I had to watch him.
In the rear of the room that I occupied was a window through which
I watched the boy and the natives both from time to time, and when
anything went wrong I would call out from there to the boy. Aaron soon
observed this, and found that he could get my attention himself by
calling out when any one annoyed him, and he also knew that the boy
was put there as a protector. Whenever any of the natives came about
the cage he would call for me in his peculiar manner, which I well
understood and promptly responded to. The boy also knew what it meant,
and would rush to the rescue. If I were away from the house and the boy
was aware of the fact, he was apt to be tardy in coming to the relief
of the ape, and sometimes did not come at all, in which event the two
would crawl into their house and pull down the curtain so that they
could not be seen. Here they would remain until the natives would leave
or some one came to their aid. Neither of them ever resented anything
the natives did to them unless they could see me about, but whenever
I came in sight they would make battle with their tormentors, and if
liberated from the big cage, they would chase the last one of them out
of the yard.
Aaron knew perfectly well that they were not allowed to molest him or
his companion, and when he knew that he had my support he was ready
to carry on the war to a finish. But it was really funny to see how
meek and patient he was when left alone to defend himself against the
natives with a stick, and then to note the change in him when he knew
that he was backed up by a friend upon whom he could rely.
Mr. Strohm, the trader with whom I found hospitality at this place,
kept a cow in the lot where the cage was. She was a small black animal,
and the first that Aaron had ever seen. He never ceased to contemplate
her with wonder and with fear. If she came near the cage when no one
was about he hurried into his box, and from there peeped out in silence
until she went away. The cow was equally amazed at the cage and its
strange occupants, though less afraid, and frequently came near to
inspect them. She would stand a few yards away with her head lifted
high, her eyes arched and ears thrown forward, waiting for them to come
out of that mysterious box; but they would not venture out of their
asylum while she remained, until tired of waiting she would switch her
tail, shake her head, and turn away.
When taken out of the cage, Aaron had special delight in driving the
cow away, and if she was around he would grasp me by the hand and start
towards her. He would stamp the ground with his foot, strike with all
force with his long arm, slap the ground with his hand, and scream at
her at the top of his voice. If she moved away, he would let go my
hand and rush towards her as though he intended to tear her up; but if
the cow turned suddenly towards him, the little fraud would run to me,
grasp my leg, and scream with fright.
The cow was afraid of a man, and as long as she was followed by one
she would continue to go; but when she would discover the ape to be
alone in the pursuit, she would turn and look as if trying to determine
what manner of thing it was. Elisheba never seemed to take any special
notice of the cow except when she approached too near the cage, and
then it was due to the conduct of Aaron that she made any fuss about
it.
On board the steamer that we sailed in for home, there was a young
elephant that was sent by a trader for sale. He was kept in a strong
stall, built on deck for his quarters. There were wide cracks between
the boards, and the elephant had the habit of reaching his trunk
through them in search of anything he might find. With his long,
flexible proboscis extended from the side of the stall, he would twist
and coil it in all manner of writhing forms. This was the crowning
terror of the lives of those two apes: it was the bogie-man of their
existence, and nothing could induce either of them to go near it. If
they saw me go about it, they would scream and yell until I came away.
If Aaron could get hold of me without getting too near it, he would
cling to me until he would almost tear my clothes to keep me away from
it. It was the one thing that Elisheba was afraid of, and the only one
against which she ever gave me warning.
They did not manifest the same concern for others, but sat watching
them without offering any protest. Even the stowaway who fed them
and attended to their cage was permitted to approach it, but their
solicitude for me was remarked by every man on board.
I was never able to tell what their opinion was of the thing. They were
much less afraid of the elephant when they could see all of him, than
they were of the trunk when they saw that alone. They may have thought
the latter to be a big snake, but such is only conjecture.
At the beginning of the voyage I took six panels of my own cage and
made a small cage for them. I taught them to drink water from a
beer-bottle with a long neck that could be put through a mesh of the
wires. They preferred this mode of drinking, and appeared to look upon
it as an advanced idea. Elisheba always insisted on being served first,
and being a female her wish was complied with. When she had finished,
Aaron would climb up by the wires and take his turn. There is a certain
sound or word which the chimpanzee always uses to express "good" or
"satisfaction," and he made frequent use of it. He would drink a few
swallows of the water and then utter the sound, whereupon Elisheba
would climb up again and taste it. She seemed to think it was something
better than she was drinking, but finding it the same as she had had,
she would again give way for him. Every time he would use the sound she
would take another taste and turn away, but she never failed to try it
if he uttered the sound.
The boy who cared for them on the voyage was disposed to play tricks on
them, and one of these ugly pranks was to turn the bottle up so that
when they had finished drinking and took their lips away, the water
would spill out and run down over them. For a time or two they declined
to drink from the bottle while he was holding it, but when he let it
go it would hang in such a position that they could not get the water
out of it at all. At length Aaron solved the problem by climbing up
one side of the cage, and getting on a level with the bottle, reached
across the angle formed by the two sides of the cage and drank. In
this position it was no matter to him how much the water ran out, it
couldn't touch him. Elisheba watched him until she quite grasped the
idea, when she climbed up in the same manner and slaked her thirst.
I scolded the boy for serving them with such cruel tricks, but it
taught me another lesson of value concerning the mental resources of
the chimpanzee, for no philosopher could have found a much better
scheme to obviate the trouble than did this cunning little sage in the
hour of necessity.
I have never regarded the training of animals as the true measure of
their mental powers, but the real test is to reduce the animal to his
own resources, and see how he will render himself under conditions that
present new problems. Animals may be taught to do many things in a
mechanical way, and without any motive that relates to the action; but
when they can work out the solution without the aid of man, it is only
the faculty of reason that can guide them.
One thing that Aaron could never figure out was what became of the
chimpanzee that he saw in a mirror. I have seen him hunt for that
mysterious ape for an hour at a time, and he broke a piece off a mirror
I had in trying to find it, but he never succeeded.
I have held the glass firmly before him, and he would put his face up
close to it, sometimes almost in contact. He would quietly gaze at the
image, and then reach his hand around the glass to feel for it. Not
finding it, he would peep around the side of it and then look into
it again. He would take hold of it and turn it around; lay it on the
ground, look at the image again, and put his hand under the edge of
it. The look of inquiry in that quaint face was so striking as to make
one pity him. But he was hard to discourage, and continued the search
whenever he had the mirror.
Elisheba never worried herself much about it. When she saw the image
in the glass she seemed to recognise it as one of her kind, but when
it would vanish she let it go without trying to find it. In fact, she
often turned away from it as though she did not admire it. She rarely
ever took hold of the glass, and never felt behind it for the other ape.
Altogether she was an odd specimen of her tribe, eccentric and
whimsical beyond anything I have ever known among animals, yet with all
her freaks Aaron was fond of her, and she afforded him company; but he
was extremely jealous of her, and permitted no stranger to take any
liberties with her with impunity. He did not object to them doing so
with him, and rarely took offence at any degree of familiarity, for he
would make friends with any one who was gentle with him, but he could
not tolerate their doing so with her.
She betrayed no sign of affection for him except when some one annoyed
or vexed him, but in that event she never failed to take his part
against all odds. At such times she would become frantic with rage,
and if the cause was prolonged, she would often refuse to eat for hours
afterwards.
On the voyage homeward, there was another chimpanzee on board,
belonging to a sailor who was bringing him home for sale. He was about
two years older than Aaron and fully twice as large. He was tame and
gentle, but was kept in a close cage to himself. He saw the others
roaming about the deck and tried to make up with them, but they evinced
no desire to become intimate with one who was confined in such a manner.
One bright Sunday morning, as we rode the calm waters near the Canary
Islands, I induced the sailor to release his prisoner on the main deck
with my own, and see how they would act towards each other. He did so,
and in a moment the big ape came ambling along the deck towards Aaron
and Elisheba, who were sitting on the top of a hatch and absorbed in
gnawing some turkey bones.
As the stranger came near he slackened his pace and gazed earnestly
at the others. Aaron ceased eating and stared at the visitor with a
look of surprise, but Elisheba barely noticed him. He scanned Aaron
from head to foot, and Aaron did the same with him. He advanced until
his nose almost touched that of Aaron, and in this position the two
remained for some seconds, when the big one proceeded to salute
Elisheba in the same manner, but she gave him little attention. She
continued to gnaw the bone in her hand, and he had no reason to feel
flattered at the impression he appeared to have made on her.
Aaron watched him with deep concern, but without uttering a sound.
Turning again to Aaron, he reached out for his turkey bone; but the
hospitality of the little host was not equal to the demand, and he drew
back with a shrug of his shoulder, holding the bone closer to himself
and then resumed eating.
A bone was then given to the visitor by a steward, and he climbed
upon the hatch and took a seat on the right of Elisheba, while Aaron
was seated to her left. As soon as the big one had taken his seat,
Aaron resigned his place and crowded himself in between them. The
three sat for a few moments in this order, when the big one got up and
deliberately walked around to the other side of Elisheba and sat down
again beside her. Again Aaron forced himself in between them.
This act was repeated six or eight times, when Elisheba left the hatch
and took a seat on a spar that lay on deck. The big ape immediately
moved over and sat down near her; but by the time he was seated Aaron
again got in between them, and as he did so he struck his rival a smart
blow on the back. They sat in this manner for a minute or so, when
Aaron drew back his hand and struck him again. He continued his blows
all the while, increasing them in force and frequency, but the other
did not resent them. His manner was one of dignified contempt, as if
he regarded the inferior strength of his assailant unworthy of his own
prowess.
It would be absurd to suppose that he was constrained by any principle
of honour, but his demeanour was patronising and forbearing, like that
of a considerate man towards a small boy.
One amusing feature of the affair was the half-serious and half-jocular
manner of Aaron. He did not turn his face to look at his rival as he
struck, and the instant the blow was delivered he withdrew his hand
as if to avoid being detected. He gave no sign of anger, but made no
effort to conceal his jealousy, and the other seemed to be aware of
the cause of his disquietude. The smirk of indifference on the little
lover's face belied the state of mind that impelled his action, and it
was patent to all who witnessed the tilt that Aaron was jealous of his
guest.
From time to time Elisheba would change her seat, when the same scene
would ensue.
The whole affair was comical and yet so real, that one could not
repress the laughter it evoked. It was the drama of "love's young
dream" in real life, in which every man, at some period of his young
career, has played each part the same as these two rivals. Every detail
of plot and line was the duplicate of a like incident in the experience
of boyhood.
[Illustration: AARON AND ELISHEBA]
Elisheba did not appear to encourage the suit of this simian beau, but
she did not rebuff him as a true and faithful spouse should do, and
I never blamed Aaron for not liking it. She had no right to tolerate
the attentions of a total stranger; but she was feminine, and perhaps
endowed with all the vanity of her sex and fond of adulation.
However, my sympathies for the devoted little Aaron were too strong for
me to permit him to be imposed upon by a rival, who was twice as big
and three times as strong as he was, so I took him and Elisheba away on
the after deck, where they had a good time alone.
Elisheba was never very much devoted to me, but in the early part of
her career she began to realise the fact that I was her master and her
friend. She had no gratitude in her nature, but she had sense enough to
see that all her food and comfort were due to me, and as a matter of
policy she became submissive, but never tractable. She was doubtless a
plebeian among her own race, and was not capable of being brought up
to a high standard of culture. She could not be controlled by kindness
alone, for she was by nature sordid and perverse. I was never cruel
or severe in dealing with her, but it was necessary to be strict and
firm. Her poor health, however, often caused me to indulge her in whims
that otherwise would have brought her under a more rigid discipline;
and the patient conduct of Aaron appeared to be tempered by the same
consideration.
CHAPTER XI
THE DEATH OF AARON AND ELISHEBA
At the end of forty-two long days at sea we arrived at Liverpool. It
was near the end of autumn. The weather was cold and foggy. Elisheba
was failing in health, as I feared she would do in coming from the
warm, humid climate along the equator, and, at the same time, having to
undergo a change of food.
On arriving at the end of our long and arduous voyage, I secured
quarters for them, and quickly had them stowed away in a warm, sunny
cage. Elisheba began to recover from the fatigue and worry of the
journey, and for a time was more cheerful than she had been since I had
known her. Her appetite returned, the symptoms of fever passed away,
and she seemed benefited by the voyage rather than injured. Aaron was
in the best of health, and had shown no signs of any evil results from
the trip.
On reaching the landing-stage in Liverpool, some friends who met us
there expressed a desire to see them, and I opened their cage in the
waiting-room for that purpose. When they beheld the throng of huge
figures with white faces, long skirts and big coats, they were almost
frantic with fear. They had never before seen anything like it, and
they crouched back in the corner of the cage, clinging to each other
and screaming in terror.
When they saw me standing by them they rushed to me, seized me by the
legs, and climbed up to my arms. Finding they were safe here, they
stared for a moment, as if amazed at the crowd, and then Elisheba
buried her face under my chin, and refused to look at any one. They
were both trembling with fright, and I could scarcely get them into
their cage again; but after they were installed in their quarters with
Dr. Cross, they became reconciled to the sight of strangers in such
costumes.
In their own country they had never seen anything like this, for the
natives to whom they were accustomed wear no clothing as a rule, except
a small piece of cloth tied round the waist, and the few white men
they had seen were mostly dressed in white; but here was a great crowd
in skirts and overcoats, and I have no doubt that to them it was a
startling sight for the first time.
During the first two weeks after arriving at this place, Elisheba
improved in health and temper until she was not like the same creature;
but about that time she contracted a severe cold. A deep, dry cough,
attended by pains in the chest and sides, together with a piping
hoarseness, betrayed the nature of her disease, and gave just cause for
apprehension.
During frequent paroxysms of coughing she pressed her hands upon
her breast or side to arrest the shock, and thus lessen the pain it
caused. When quiet, she sat holding her hands on her throat, her head
bowed down, and her eyes drooping or closed. Day by day the serpent of
disease drew his deadly coils closer and closer about her wasting form,
but she bore it with a patience worthy of a human being.
The sympathy and forbearance of Aaron were again called into action,
and the demand was not in vain. Hour after hour he sat with her locked
in his arms, as he is seen in the portrait given herewith. He was not
posing for a picture, nor was he aware how deeply his manners touched
the human heart. Even the brawny men who work about the place paused to
watch him in his tender offices to her, and his staid keeper was moved
to pity by his kindness and his patience.
For days she lingered on the verge of death. She became too feeble to
sit up, but as she lay on her bed of straw, he sat by her side, resting
his folded arms upon her, and refusing to allow any one to touch her.
His look of deep concern showed that he felt the gravity of her case,
in a degree that bordered on grief. He was grave and silent, as if he
foresaw the sad end that was near at hand. My frequent visits were a
source of comfort to him, and he evinced a pleasure in my coming that
bespoke his confidence in me and faith in my ability to relieve his
suffering companion; but, alas! she was beyond the aid of human skill.
On the morning of her decease, I found him sitting by her as usual.
At my approach he quietly rose to his feet, and advanced to the front
of the cage. Opening the door, I put my arm in and caressed him. He
looked into my face, and then at the prostrate form of his mate. The
last dim sparks of life were not yet gone out, as the slight motion of
the breast betrayed, but the limbs were cold and limp. While I leaned
over to examine more closely, he crouched down by her side and watched
with deep concern to see the result. I laid my hand upon her heart to
ascertain if the last hope was gone; he looked at me, and then placed
his own hand by the side of mine, and held it there as if he knew the
purport of the act.
Of course, to him this had no real meaning, but it was an index to the
desire which prompted it. He seemed to think that anything that I did
would be good for her, and his purpose, doubtless, was to aid me. When
I removed my hand, he removed his; when I returned mine, he did the
same; and to the last gave evidence of his faith in my friendship and
good intentions. His ready approval of anything I did showed that he
had a vague idea of my purpose.
At length the breast grew still and the feeble beating of the heart
ceased. The lips were parted and the dim eyes were half-way closed,
but he sat by as if she were asleep. The sturdy keeper came to remove
the body from the cage; but Aaron clung to it, and refused to allow
him to touch it. I took the little mourner in my arms, but he watched
the keeper jealously, and did not want him to remove or disturb the
body. It was laid on a bunch of straw in front of the cage and he
was returned to his place, but he clung to me so firmly that it was
difficult to release his hold. He cried in a piteous tone, fretted and
worried, as if he fully realised the worst. The body was then removed
from view, but poor little Aaron was not consoled. How I pitied him!
How I wished that he was again in his native land, where he might find
friends of his own race!
After this, he grew more attached to me than ever, and when I went to
visit him he was happy and cheerful in my presence; but the keeper said
that while I was away he was often gloomy and morose. As long as he
could see me or hear my voice, he would fret and cry for me to come to
him. When I would leave him, he would scream as long as he had any hope
of inducing me to return.
A few days after the death of Elisheba, the keeper put a young monkey
in the cage with him for company. This gave him some relief from the
monotony of his own society, but never quite filled the place of the
lost one. With this little friend, however, he amused himself in many
ways. He nursed it so zealously and hugged it so tightly that the poor
little monkey was often glad to escape from him in order to have a
rest. But the task of catching it again afforded him almost as much
pleasure as he found in nursing it.
Thus he passed his time for a few weeks, when he was seized by a sudden
cold, which in a few days developed into an acute type of pneumonia.
I was in London at the time and was not aware of this, but, feeling
anxious about him, I wrote to Dr. Cross, in whose care he was left,
and received a note in reply, stating that Aaron was very ill, and not
expected to live. I prepared to go to visit him the next day, but just
before I left the hotel I received a telegram stating that he was dead.
The news contained in the letter was a greater shock to me than that in
the telegram, for which, in part, the former had prepared me; but no
one can imagine how deeply these evil tidings affected me. I could not
bring myself to a full sense of the fact. I was unwilling to believe
that I was thus deprived of my devoted friend. I could not realise that
fate would be so cruel to me; but, alas! it was true.
Not being present during his short illness or at the time of his death,
I cannot relate any of the scenes attending them; but the kind old
keeper who attended him declares that he never became reconciled to the
death of Elisheba, and that his loneliness preyed upon him almost as
much as the disease.
When I looked upon his cold, lifeless body, I felt that I was indeed
bereft of one of the dearest and one of the most loyal pets that any
mortal had ever known. His fidelity to me had been shown in a hundred
ways, and his affections had never wavered. How could any one requite
such integrity with anything unkind?
To those who possess the higher instincts of humanity, it will not be
thought absurd in me to confess that the conduct of these creatures
awoke in me a feeling more exalted than a mere sense of kindness. It
touched some chord of nature that yields a richer tone; but only those
who have known such pets as I have known them can feel towards them as
I have felt.
I have no desire to bias the calm judgment or bribe the sentiment of
him who scorns the love of nature, by clothing these humble creatures
in the garb of human dignity; but to him who is not so imbued with
self-conceit as to be blind to all evidence and deaf to all reason, it
must appear that they are gifted with like faculties and passions to
those of man; differing in degree, but not in kind.
Moved by such conviction, who could fail to pity that poor, lone
captive, in his iron cell, far from his native land, slowly dying? It
may be a mere freak of sentiment that I regret not being with him to
soothe and comfort his last hours, but I do regret it deeply. He had
the right to expect it of me, as a duty.
Poor little Aaron! In the brief span of half a year he had seen his own
mother die at the hands of the cruel hunters; he had been seized and
sold into captivity; he had seen the lingering torch of life go out of
the frail body of Moses; he had watched the demon of death bind his
cold shackles on Elisheba; and now he had, himself, passed through the
deep shadows of that ordeal.
What a sad and vast experience for one short year! He had shared with
me the toils and dangers of the sea and land over many a weary mile. He
seemed to feel that the death of his two friends was a common loss to
us; and if there is any one thing which more than another knits the web
of sympathy about two alien hearts, it is the experience of a common
grief.
Thus ended the career of my _kulu-kamba_ friend, the last of my
chimpanzee pets. In him were centred many cherished hopes, but they did
not perish with him, for I shall some day find another one of his kind
in whom I may realise all that I had hoped for in him; but I cannot
expect to find a specimen of superior qualities, for he was certainly
one of the jolliest and one of the wisest of his race.
However fine and intelligent his successor may be, he can never
supplant either Moses or Aaron in my affections: for these two little
heroes shared with me so many of the sad vicissitudes of time and
fortune that I should be an ingrate to forget them or allow the deeds
of others to dim the glory of their memory.
I have all of them preserved, and when I look at them the past comes
back to me, and I recall so vividly the scenes in which they played the
leading _rôles_--it is like a panorama of their lives.
CHAPTER XII
OTHER CHIMPANZEES
Among the number of chimpanzees that I have seen are some whose actions
are worthy of record; but as many of them were the repetition of
similar acts of other specimens which are elsewhere described, we shall
omit them, and relate only such other acts as may tend to widen the
circle of our knowledge, and more fully illustrate the mental range of
this interesting tribe of apes.
In passing through the country of the Esyira tribe, I came to a small
village where I halted for a rest. On entering the open space between
two rows of bamboo huts, I saw a group of native children at the
opposite end of the space, and among them a fine big chimpanzee, who
was sharing with them in their play.
When they discovered the presence of a white man in the town, they left
their sport and came to inspect me. The ape also came, and he showed
as much interest in the matter as any one else did. I was seated in
a native chair in front of the king's hut, and the people, as usual,
stood around me at a respectful distance, looking on as if I had been
some wild beast captured in the jungle. The ape was aware that I was
not a familiar kind of thing, and he appeared in doubt as to how he
should act towards me. He sat down on the ground among the people,
and stared at me in surprise, from time to time glancing at those
around him as if to ascertain what they thought of me. As they became
satisfied with looking, they retired one by one from the scene, until
most of them had gone, but the ape remained. He changed his place a few
times, but only to get a better view. The people were amused at his
manner, but no one molested him.
At length I spoke to him in his own language, using the sound which
they use for calling one another. He looked as if he knew what it
meant but made no reply. I repeated the sound, when he rose up and
stood on his feet as if he intended to come to me. Again I uttered
it, and he came a few feet closer, but shied to one side as if to
flank my position and get behind me. He stopped again to look, and I
repeated the word, in response to which he came up near my right side,
and began to examine my clothing. He plucked at my coat-sleeve a few
times, then at the leg of my trousers and at the top of my boot. He
was getting rather familiar for a stranger, but I felt myself to blame
for having given him the license to do so. For a while he continued
his investigations, then deliberately put his left hand on my right
shoulder, his right foot on my knee, and climbed into my lap. He now
began to examine my helmet, ears, nose, chin and mouth. He became a
little rough, and I tried to get him down out of my lap, but he was
not disposed to go. Finally, I told my boy, who acted as interpreter,
to tell the native lads to come and take him away. This amused them
very much, for they saw that I was bigger than the ape, and thought I
ought therefore to manage him myself. They complied, however, but his
apeship declined to go until one of the men of the town interfered and
compelled him to do so.
As he got down from my lap, one of the boys bantered him to play. He
accepted the challenge, and ran after the lad until they reached the
end of the open space between the houses, when the boy fell upon the
ground and the ape fell on him. They rolled and wallowed on the ground
for a time, when the ape released himself and ran away to the other end
of the opening, the boy pursuing him. When they reached the end of the
street, they again fell upon each other and another scuffle ensued. It
was plain to be seen that the boy could run much faster than the ape,
but he did not try to elude him.
The other children crowded around them or followed them, looking on,
laughing and shouting in the greatest glee. First one boy and then
another took his turn in the play, but the ape did not lose interest in
me. He stopped from time to time to take another survey, but did not
try again to get upon my lap.
[Illustration: NATIVE VILLAGE AT MOILE--INTERIOR OF NYANZA]
After a long time at this sport, the ape quit playing and sat down by
the wall of a house, with his back against it; the children tried in
vain to induce him to resume, but he firmly declined, and sat there
like a tired athlete, picking his teeth with a bamboo splinter, which
he had pulled off the side of the house.
His conduct was so much like that of the children with whom he was
playing, that one could not have distinguished him from them except
by his physique. He enjoyed the game as much as they did, and showed
that he knew how to gain or use an advantage over his adversary. In a
scuffle he was stronger and more active than the boys, but in the race
they were the more fleet. He screamed and yelled with delight, and in
every way appeared to enter into the spirit of the fun.
He was about five years old, and his history, as it was given to me,
was that he had been captured when quite young in the forest near that
place and ever since that time had lived in the village. He had been
the constant playmate of the children, ate with them, and slept in the
same houses with them. He was perfectly tame and harmless; he knew
every one in the village by name, and knew his own name.
The king's son, to whom he belonged, assured me that the ape could
talk, and that he himself could understand what he said; but he
declined to gratify my request to hear it. However, he called the ape
by name, and told him to come to him, which he obeyed. He then gave
him a long-necked gourd, and told him to go to the spring and bring
some water. The animal hesitated, but on repeating the command two or
three times, he reluctantly obeyed. After a few minutes he returned
with the gourd about half filled with water. In carrying the vessel
he held it by the neck, but this deprived him of the use of one hand.
He waddled along on his feet, using the other hand, but now and then
would set the gourd on the ground, still holding to it, and using it
something after the manner of a short stick. On delivering the gourd
of water to his master, he gave evidence of knowing that he had done
a clever thing. I expressed a desire to see him fill the gourd at the
spring. The water was then emptied out, and the gourd again given to
him. On this occasion we followed him to the place where he got the
water. On arriving, he leaned over the spring and pressed the gourd
into the water, but the mouth of it was turned down so that the water
could not flow into it. As he lifted the gourd out, it turned to one
side and a small quantity flowed into it. He repeated the act a number
of times, and seemed to know how it ought to be done, although he was
very awkward in doing it. Whenever the water in the mouth of the gourd
would bubble, he would dip it back again and was evidently aware that
it was not filled. Finally, raising the vessel, he turned and offered
it to his master, who declined to relieve him of it. We turned to go
back into the town, and the ape followed us with the gourd, but all the
way along continued to mutter a sound of complaint.
He next sent him into the edge of the forest to bring firewood. He was
only gone a few minutes when he returned with a small branch of dead
wood which he had picked up on the ground. He again sent him, together
with three or four children. When he returned on this occasion he had
three sticks in his hand. The man explained to me that, when the ape
went alone he would never bring but one twig at a time, and this was
sometimes not bigger than a lead-pencil; but if the children went with
him and brought wood, he would bring as much as he could grasp in one
hand. He also told me that the animal would sit down on the ground and
lay the sticks across one arm in the same manner as the children did,
but invariably dropped them when he would rise up. Then he would seize
what he could in one hand, and bring it along. He also said, that in
carrying a single stick the ape always used the hand in which he held
it; but if he had three or four pieces that he always curved his arm
inwards, holding the wood against his side, and hobbled along with his
feet and the other hand.
The next thing with which he entertained me was sending the ape to call
some one in the village. He first sent him to bring a certain one of
the man's wives. She was several doors away from where we sat. The ape
went to one house, sat down at the door for a moment, looking inside,
and then moved slowly along to the next, which he entered. Within a
minute he appeared at the door holding the cloth that the woman wore
tied around her, and in this manner led her to his master. He next sent
him to bring a certain boy, which he did in a similar manner, except
that the boy had on no clothing of any kind, and the ape held him by
the leg.
During all these feats the man talked to him, as far as I could tell,
in the native language only, though he declared to me that some of the
words that he had used were those of the ape's own speech. However,
he said that many words that the ape knew were of the native speech,
and that the ape had no such words in his language. One thing that
especially impressed me was a sound which I have elsewhere described
as meaning "good" or "satisfaction," which this man said was the word
which these apes use to mean "mother." My own servant had told me the
same thing before, but I am still of the opinion that they are mistaken
in the meaning of the sound, although it is almost exactly the same
as the word for mother in the native speech. The difference being in
the vowel element only, and it is possible, I grant, that the word may
have both meanings. A little later one of the women came to the door
of a house and said, in the native language, that something was ready
to eat, whereupon the children and the ape at once started. In the
meantime she set an earthen pot, containing boiled plantains, in front
of the house, from which all the children and the ape alike helped
themselves. In brief, the ape was a part of the family, and was so
regarded by all in the town.
I do not know to what extent they may have played upon my credulity,
but, so far as I could discern, their statements concerning the animal
were verified.
I proposed to buy the ape, but the price asked was nearly twice that
of a slave, and I could have bought any child in the town at a smaller
cost. I have never seen any other chimpanzee that I so much coveted.
When standing in an upright position, he was quite four feet in height,
strongly built, and well-proportioned. He was in a fine, healthy
condition, and in the very prime of his life. He was not handsome in
the face, but his coat of hair was of good colour and texture. He was
of the common variety, but a fine specimen.
Mr. Otto Handmann, formerly the German consul at Gaboon, had a very
fair specimen of this same species of chimpanzee. He was a rough, burly
creature, but was well-disposed and had in his face a look of wisdom
that was almost comical. He had been for some months a captive in a
native town, during which time he had become quite tame and docile. By
nature he was not humorous, but appeared to acquire a sense of fun as
he grew older and became more familiar with the manners of men.
On my return from the interior, I was invited by the consul to take
breakfast with himself and a few friends; but owing to a prior
engagement I was not able to be present. It was proposed by some one of
the guests present that my vacant seat at the table should be filled by
the chimpanzee. He was brought into the room and permitted to occupy
the seat. He behaved himself with becoming gravity, and was not abashed
in the presence of so many guests. He was served with such things as
were best suited to his liking, and his demeanour was such as to amuse
all present. On proposing a toast, all the guests beat with their
hands upon the table, and in this the chimpanzee joined with apparent
pleasure. After a few rounds of this kind, one of the guests, occupying
the seat next to him, failed to respond with the usual beating; the
chimpanzee observed the fact, turned upon the guest, and began to
claw, scream, and pound him on the back and arm until the gentleman
proceeded to beat, whereupon the ape resumed his place and joined in
the applause. On this occasion he acquitted himself with credit, but an
hour later he had fallen into disgrace by drinking beer until he was
actually drunk, when he awkwardly climbed off the chair, crawled under
the table, and went to sleep.
One of the clerks in the employ of the consul also had a fair specimen
of this same species. It was a female, perhaps two years younger than
the one just described, but equally addicted to the habit of drinking
beer. It is the custom among people on the coast to offer to a guest
something to drink, and on these occasions this young lady ape always
expected to partake with others. If she was overlooked in pouring out
beer for others, she always set up a complaint until she got her glass.
If it was not given to her, she would go from one to another, holding
out her hand and begging for a drink. If she failed to secure it, she
would watch her opportunity, and while the guest was not looking,
would stealthily reach up, take his glass off the table, drink the
contents, and return the glass to its place. She would do this with
each one in turn, until she had taken the last glass; but if a glass
was given to her at the same time that the others were served, she was
content with it and made no attempt to steal that of another.
In this act she evinced a skill and caution worthy of a confirmed
thief; she would secrete herself under the table or behind a chair,
and watch her chance. She made no attempt to steal the glass while it
was being watched, but the instant she discovered that she was not
observed, or thought she was not, the theft was committed.
Her master frequently gave her a glass and bottle of beer to help
herself. She could pour the beer out with dexterity. She often spilt a
portion of it, and sometimes filled the glass too full, but always set
the bottle right end up, lifted the glass with both hands, drained it,
and refilled it as long as there was any in the bottle. She could also
drink from the bottle, and would resort to this if no glass was given
her. She knew an empty bottle from one that contained beer.
This ape was very much attached to her master, would follow him, and
cry after him like a child. She was affectionate to him, but had been
so much annoyed by strangers that her temper was spoiled and she was
irritable.
I may remark here, that I have known at least five or six chimpanzees
that were fond of beer, and would drink it until they were drunk
whenever they could get it. I have never seen one, that I am aware of,
that would drink spirits.
Arriving on the south side of Lake Izanga, I found a young chimpanzee
at the house of a white trader. It was tied to a post in the yard,
where it was annoyed by the natives who came to the place to trade. On
approaching it for the first time, I spoke to it in its own language,
using the word for food. It recognised the sound at once and responded
to it. As I came nearer, it advanced as far towards me as the string
with which it was tied would allow. Standing erect and holding out its
hands, it repeated the sound two or three times. I gave it some dried
fish which it ate with relish, and we at once became friends. Its
master permitted me to release it on the condition that I should not
allow it to escape. I did so, and took the little captive in my arms.
It put its arms around my neck as if I had been the only friend it had
on earth. It clung to me, and would not consent for me to leave it. I
could but pity the poor, neglected creature. There it was, tied in the
hot sun, hungry, lonely, and exposed to the tortures of every heartless
native that chose to tease it. When it was not in my arms, it followed
me around and would not leave me for a moment. Its master cared but
little for it, and left it to the charge of his boy, who, like all
other natives, had no thought or concern for the comfort of any
creature but himself. I tried to purchase it, but the price was too
much, and after two days our friendship was broken for ever. But I was
glad to learn, soon after this, that another trader secretly released
it, and let it escape into the forest. The man who did this told me
himself that he did it as an act of mercy. I often recall this little
prisoner to mind, and always feel a sense of gladness at knowing that
he was set at liberty by a humane friend. Whatever may have been his
fate in the forest, it could have been no worse than to be confined,
starved, and tormented as he was, while in captivity.
Another small specimen, which I saw at Gaboon, was not of much value
except from one fact, and that was, it was broken out with an eruptive
disease prevalent among the natives. It is called crawcraw or kra-kra.
It is said to originate from the water, either by external or internal
use of it. This animal was infected in the same way and on the same
parts of the body as men are affected by the same disease, and is
another instance of their being subject to the same maladies as
those of man. The specimen itself also exemplified the difference in
intellect among these animals, for this one had in its face the look
of mental weakness, and every act confirmed the fact. It was silent,
inactive and obtuse.
During my residence in the cage I did not see so many chimpanzees as
I saw of gorillas, but from those I did see it was an easy matter to
determine that they were much less shy and timid than the gorilla.
On one occasion I heard one in the bush not far away from the cage. I
called him with the usual sound and he answered, but did not come to
the cage. It is probable that he could see it, and was afraid of it.
I tried to induce Moses to call him, and he did once utter the sound,
but he appeared to regret having made the attempt. I called again and
he answered, and from the manner in which Moses behaved it was evident
that he understood it. He would not attempt the call again, but clung
to my neck with his face buried under my chin. It was probably jealousy
that caused him to refuse, because he did not want the other to share
my attentions. I gave the food sound, but I could not induce the
visitor to come nearer. I failed to get a view of him so as to tell how
large he was, but from his voice he must have been about grown. Whether
he was quite alone or not I was not able to tell, but only the one
voice could be heard.
Another time, while sitting quite alone, a young chimpanzee, perhaps
five or six years old, appeared at the edge of a small opening of the
bush. He plucked a bud or leaf from a small plant. He raised it to his
nose and smelt it. He picked three or four buds of different kinds, one
or two of which he put in his mouth. He turned aside the dead leaves
that were lying on the ground as if he expected to find something
under them. I spoke to him, using the call sound; he instantly turned
his eyes towards me, but made no reply. I uttered the food sound and
he replied, but stood where he was. He betrayed no sign of fear, and
little of surprise. He surveyed the cage and myself, and I repeated
the sound two or three times. He refused to approach any nearer. He
turned his head from side to side for a moment as if in doubt which way
to go; then turned aside and disappeared in the bush. He did not run or
start away as if in great fear, but by the sound of the shaking bushes
it could be told that he increased his speed after he once disappeared
from view.
One day I had been for a stroll with Moses and the boy. As we returned
to the cage we saw a chimpanzee about half-grown; he was crossing the
rugged little path about thirty yards away from us. He paused for a
moment to look at us, and we stopped. I tried to induce Moses to call
out to him, but he declined to do so. As the stranger turned aside
I called to him myself, but he neither stopped nor answered. This
one appeared to be quite brown, but the boy assured me his hair was
jet black, but his skin being light gave him this colour. To satisfy
myself, I had Moses placed in the same place and position, and looking
at him from the same distance I was convinced that the boy was right.
One morning, as I started with Moses for a walk, I had only gone some
forty yards away from the cage when he made a sound of warning. I
instantly looked up, when I saw a large chimpanzee standing in the bush
not more than twenty yards away. I paused to look at him. He stood for
a moment, looking straight at us. I spoke to him, but he made no reply;
he moved off almost parallel to the little path which we were in, and
I returned towards the cage. He did not come any nearer to us, but kept
his course almost parallel with ours. He turned his head from time
to time to look, but gave no sign of attack. I called to him several
times, but he made no answer. When I reached a place in front of the
cage I called again, and after the lapse of a few seconds he stopped.
By this time he was concealed from view. He only halted for a moment,
changed his course and resumed his journey. This was the largest one I
saw in the forest.
At another time, while sitting in the cage, I heard the sound of
something making its way through the bush not more than twenty yards
away; presently it passed in view. As it crossed the path near by, I
called three or four times, but it neither stopped nor answered. As
well as I could tell, it appeared to be a female and quite grown.
I may take occasion to remark that while the chimpanzee is mostly
found in large family groups, as I have reason to believe from native
accounts of them, and from what has been told me by white men, I have
never been able to see a family of them together, but each of these
that I have mentioned, so far as I could tell, was quite alone. Whether
the others were scattered through the forest in like manner, hunting
for food, and all came together after this or not, I can only say that
every chimpanzee that I saw was alone at the time.
Another thing worthy of mention is the fact that both these apes live
in the same forest, and twice on the same day I have seen both kinds.
This is contrary to the common idea that they do not inhabit the same
jungle. It appears that where there is a great number of the one there
are but few of the other. The natives say that in combat between the
chimpanzee and gorilla, the former is always victor, on which account
the latter is afraid of him. I believe this to be true, because the
chimpanzee, although not so strong, is more active and more intelligent
than the gorilla.
The chimpanzee will not approach or attack man if he can avoid it,
but he does not shrink from him as the gorilla does. One instance
that will illustrate this phase of his character I shall relate. On
one occasion recently, while I was on the coast, a native boy started
across a small plain near the trading station. Along with him was a
dog that belonged to the white trader at the place. The dog was in
advance of the boy, and as the latter emerged from a small clump of
the bush he heard the dog bark in a playful manner, and discovered him
not more than thirty yards away, prancing, jumping, and barking in a
jolly way with a chimpanzee which appeared to be five or six years old.
The ape was standing in the path along which the boy was proceeding.
He was slapping at the dog with his hands, and did not seem to relish
the sport, yet he was not resenting it in anger. The dog thought the
ape was playing with him, and he was taking the whole thing in fun.
The boy looked at them for a few moments and retreated. As soon as he
disappeared the dog desisted and followed him to the house. The boy
was afraid of the ape, and made no attempt to capture him. The latter
was taken by surprise by the dog and boy, and thus had no time to
escape. He did not strike to harm the dog, but only to ward him off.
The dog made no attempt to bite him, but when he would jump up against
him he would knock the ape out of balance, and this annoyed him. He
didn't seem to understand just what the dog meant.
I shall not describe those so well known in captivity, only to mention
some of them. The largest specimen of the chimpanzee that I have ever
seen was Chico, who belonged to Mr. James A. Bailey, of New York. He
was as large perhaps as these apes ever become, although he was less
than ten years old when he died.
Perhaps the most valuable specimen for scientific use that has ever
been in captivity is Johanna, who belongs to the same gentleman. The
history that is given of her, however, is hardly to be taken in full
faith. Her age cannot be determined with certainty, but it is said that
she is about thirteen years old. I have reason to doubt that, although
I cannot positively deny it. Whatever may be her exact age, it is
certain that she has now reached a complete adult state. She has grown
to be quite as large as Chico was at the time of his death. She is not
of amiable temper, but is much less vicious than he was. She has some
of the marks of a kulu kamba.
In order to justify my doubts upon the subject of her age, I may state
that Chico was only ten years of age when he died, but had reached the
adult period; and as males do not reach that state sooner than the
females of any genus of the primates, it is not probable that he was
mature at ten, while she was not so until twelve. In the next place,
her captors claim to have seen her within a few hours after her birth,
and that they watched her and her mother from time to time until she
was one year old, when they killed the mother and captured the babe.
The claim is absurd. These apes are nomadic in habit, and are rarely
ever seen in the same place. They claim that she was born on January
19, but from what I know of these apes that is not their season of
bearing, and I doubt if any of them were ever born during that month.
Again, it is claimed that she was captured by Portuguese explorers in
the Congo, but the Portuguese do not possess any territory along that
river in which these apes are ever found. They claim the territory
around Kabenda, which would indicate that she came from the Loango
Valley instead of the Congo, but the cupidity of the average Portuguese
would never allow anything to go at liberty for a year if it could be
sold before that time.
Johanna is accredited with a great deal of intelligence; but I do not
regard her as being above the average of her race. Since the death
of her companion, Chico, she has received the sole attention of her
keeper, and since that time has been taught a few things which are
neither marvellous nor difficult. In point of intellect she cannot be
regarded as an extraordinary specimen of her tribe. I do not mean to
detract from her reputation, but I have failed to discover in her any
high order of mental qualities.
The reason why Johanna may be regarded as the most valuable specimen
for study is the fact that she is the only female of her race that
has ever reached the state of puberty. She has done so, and this fact
enables us to determine certain things which have never heretofore been
known. This affords the Zoologists an opportunity for the study of her
sexual development which may not again present itself in many years to
come. From this important point of view she presents the student with
many new problems in that branch of science.
I have elsewhere stated as my opinion that the female chimpanzee
reaches the age of puberty at seven to nine years, and I have many
reasons which I will not here recount, that cause me to adhere to that
belief. But the uncertainty of the age of this ape does not destroy her
value as a subject of scientific study.
The most sagacious specimen of the race that I have been brought in
contact with is Consul II., who is now an inmate of the Bellvue Garden
of Manchester, England. He has not been educated to perform mere tricks
to gratify the visitor in the way that animals are usually trained, but
most of the feats that he performs are prompted by his own desire and
for his own pleasure.
[Illustration: CONSUL II. RIDING A TRICYCLE]
There is a vast difference in the motives that prompt animals in the
execution of these feats. I have elsewhere mentioned the fact that
animals that are caused to act from fear do so mechanically, and it is
not a true index to their intellect. While Consul and a few other apes
that I have seen do many things by imitation they do not do so from
coercion. They seem to understand the purpose and foresee the results,
and these impel them to act.
Some of the feats performed by this ape I have never seen attempted
by any other. One accomplishment is riding a tricycle. He knows the
machine by the name of "bike," although it is not really a bicycle. He
can adjust it and mount it with the skill of an acrobat. The ease and
grace with which he rides are sufficient to provoke the envy of any
boy in England. He propels it with great skill and steers it with the
accuracy of an expert. He guides it around angles and obstacles in the
way with absolute precision.
Consul is allowed to go at liberty a great deal of his time, which is
the proper way to treat these apes in captivity. He rides the wheel for
his own diversion. He does not do it to gratify strangers or to "show
off."
Another accomplishment which he has, is that of smoking a pipe, cigar,
or cigarette. It may not be commended from a moral standpoint, but the
act appears to afford him quite as much pleasure as it does the average
boy when he first acquires it, and he has also formed the habit of
spitting as he smokes, but he has the good manners not to spit on the
floor. When Consul has his pipe lighted he usually sits on the floor
to enjoy it, and he spreads a sheet of paper down before him to spit
on. When he has finished smoking he rolls up the paper and throws it
into some corner out of the way. When playing about the grounds he
often finds a cigar stub. He knows what it is, picks it up, puts it
into his mouth and at once goes to his keeper for a light. He will not
attempt to light his pipe or cigar, because he is afraid of burning his
fingers; but he will light a match and hand it to his keeper to hold
while lighting the pipe. He sometimes takes a piece of paper, lights it
in the fire and hands it to some one else to light his pipe for him. He
is afraid of the fire, and will not hold the paper while it is burning.
If any one hesitates to take it from him, he throws it at them and gets
out of the way. He is not so fond of cigarettes, because he gets the
tobacco in his mouth, and he does not like the taste of it.
When Consul is furnished with a piece of chalk, he begins to draw some
huge figure on the wall or floor. He never attempts to make a small
design with chalk, but if given a pencil and paper he executes some
peculiar figure of smaller design. Those made with the chalk or pencil
are usually round or oval in shape, but if given a pen and ink he at
once begins to make a series of small figures containing many acute
angles. Whether these results are from design or accident I cannot
say, but he appears to have a well-defined idea as to the use of the
instrument, but whether he can distinguish between writing and drawing
I am unable to say.
The only abstract thing that his keeper has tried to teach him is to
select the letters of the alphabet. He has learned to distinguish the
first three. These are made upon the faces of cubical blocks of wood:
each block contains one letter on each of its faces. He selects the
letter asked for with very few mistakes, and this appears to be from
indifference more than from ignorance.
Consul is very fond of play, and makes friends with some strangers on
sight, but to others he takes an aversion without any apparent cause,
and while he is not disposed to be vicious when not annoyed, he resents
with anger the approaches of certain persons. He is the only one I have
seen that can use a knife and fork with very much skill, but he cuts up
his food with almost as much ease as a boy of the same age would do,
and uses his fork in eating. He has been taught to do this until he
rarely uses his fingers in the act. He is fond of coffee and beer, but
does not care for spirits.
There is nothing that so much delights Consul as to get into the large
cage of monkeys and baboons kept in the garden. Most of them are afraid
of him. But one large Guinea baboon is not, and on every occasion he
shows his dislike for the ape. The latter, however, takes many chances
in teasing him, but always manages to evade his attack. He displays
much skill and a great degree of caution in playing these pranks upon
the baboon when at close range. Upon the approach of the ape the other
animals in the cage all seek some refuge, and he finds great diversion
in stealing up to their place of concealment to frighten them. Consul
is very strong, and can lift objects of surprising weight. It is
awkward for him to stand in an upright position, but he does so with
more ease than any other chimpanzee that I have ever seen. If any one
will take hold of his hand he will stroll with him for a long time
without apparent fatigue.
Owing to the sudden changes of temperature in that part of England, he
is provided with a coat, which he is often required to wear when going
out of doors. He does not like to be hampered with such garments, and
if for a moment he is not watched, he removes it, and sometimes hides
it to keep from wearing it. He is also provided with trousers, which he
dislikes more if possible than his coat; but above all other articles
of wearing apparel he dislikes shoes. His keeper often puts them on
him, but whenever he gets out of sight he unties and removes them. He
cannot tie the laces, but can untie them in an instant.
[Illustration: CONSUL II. IN FULL DRESS]
He does not evince so much aversion to a hat or cap, and will sometimes
put one on without being told; but he has a perfect mania for a silk
hat, and if allowed to do so he would demolish that of every stranger
who comes to the garden. He has a decided vein of humour and a love
of approbation. When he does anything that is funny or clever, he is
perfectly aware of the fact; and when by any act he evokes a laugh
from any one he is happy, and recognises the approval by a broad
chimpanzee grin.
In the corner of the monkey-house is a room set apart for the keeper,
and in this room supplies of food for the inmates are kept. In a small
cupboard in one corner is kept a supply of bananas and other fruits.
Consul knows this and has tried many times to burglarise it. On one
occasion he secured a large screw-driver and attempted to prise open
the door. He found the resistance to be greatest at the place where
the door locked, and at this point he forced the instrument in the
crevice and broke off a piece of the wood about an inch wide from the
edge of the door. At this juncture he was discovered and reproved for
his conduct, but he never fails to stick his fingers in this crack and
try to open the door. He has not been able to unlock it when the key
is given him, although he knows the use of it, and has often tried,
but his keeper has never imparted the secret to him, and his method of
using the key has been to prise with it, or pull it instead of turning
it after putting it in the keyhole.
The young keeper, Mr. Webb, deserves great credit for his untiring
attention to this valuable young ape, and the results of his zeal are
worthy of the recognition of every man who is interested in the study
of animals.
Another specimen that may be regarded as an intermediate type was
recently kept in Belle Vue Gardens at Manchester. He was playful and
full of mischief. He had been taught to use a stick or broom to
fight with, and with such a weapon in his hand would run all over the
building, hunting some one to fight. He did not appear to be serious in
his assault, but treated it as fun. It was a bad thing to teach an ape,
because they grow pugnacious as they grow older, and all animals kept
closely confined acquire a bad temper.
In an adjoining cage was kept a young orang, and the two ate at the
same table. The chimpanzee appeared to entertain a species of contempt
for the orang. The keeper had taught him to pass the bread to his
neighbour, and he obeyed this with such reluctance that his manner
betrayed more disgust than kindness. A few small pieces of bread were
placed on a tin plate, and the kulu was required to lift the plate in
his hand, and offer it to the orang before he himself was allowed to
eat. He would lift the plate a few inches above the table, and hold
it before the orang's face; when the latter had taken a piece of the
bread, the chimpanzee withdrew the plate, held it for a moment, and
dropped it. Meanwhile he kept his eyes fixed on the orang. The manner
in which he dropped the plate looked as if he did so in contempt. When
the meal was finished, the kulu would drink his milk from a cup, wipe
his mouth with the serviette, and then get down from the table. The
orang would slowly climb down, and go back to his cage. We shall not
describe the details of their home-life, but they were two jolly young
bachelors, one of which was as stupid as the other was bright.
The specimens that were kept in the Gardens in New York were very
fine. One of them was mentally equal to any other specimen hitherto in
captivity. There were two kept in the Cincinnati Gardens which were
also very fine. There have never been but nine of these apes brought to
America so far as I am aware, but six of these lived longer and four of
them grew to be larger than any other specimens of this race have ever
done in captivity. For some reason they never survive long in England,
or other parts of Europe. This is probably due to some condition of the
atmosphere. It cannot be from a difference of treatment.
I have seen a large number of chimpanzees, but most of them were in
captivity, yet I have seen enough of them in a wild state to gain some
idea of their habits and manner, but those described will be sufficient
to show the mental character of the genus.
CHAPTER XIII
OTHER KULU-KAMBAS
Whether the kulu-kamba is a distinct species of ape, or only a
well-marked variety of the chimpanzee, he is by far the finest
representative of his genus. Among those that I have seen are some very
good specimens, and the clever things that I have witnessed them do are
sufficient to stamp them as the highest type of all apes.
On board a small river steamer that plies the Ogowe, was a young female
kulu that belonged to the captain. Her face was not by any means
handsome, and her complexion was the darkest of any kulu I have ever
seen. It was almost a coffee-colour. There were two or three spots much
darker in shade, but not well defined in outline. The dark spots looked
as if they had been artificially put on the face. The colour was not
solid, but looked as if dry burnt umber had been rubbed or sprinkled
over a surface of lighter brown. Although she was young (perhaps not
more than two years old), her face looked almost like that of a woman
of forty. Her short, flat nose, big, flexible lips, protruding jaws
and prominent arches over the eyes, with a low receding forehead,
conspired to make her look like a certain type of human being one
frequently sees. This gave her what is known as a dish-face, or a
concave profile. She had a habit of compressing her nose by contracting
the muscles of the face; curling her lips as if in scorn, and at the
same time glancing at those around her as if to express the most
profound contempt.
Whatever may have been the sentiment in her mind, her face was a
picture of disdain, and the circumstances under which she made use of
these grimaces, certainly pointed to the fact that she felt just like
she looked. At other times her visage would be covered with a perfect
smile. It was something more than a grin, and the fact that it was
used only at a time when she was pleased or diverted, showed that the
emotion which gave rise to it was perfectly in keeping with the face
itself. In repose her face was neither pretty nor ugly. It did not
strongly depict a high mental status, nor yet portray the instincts of
a brute; but her countenance was as safe an index to the mind as that
of the human being. This is true of the chimpanzee more perhaps than of
any other ape. The gorilla doubtless feels the sense of pleasure, but
his face does not yield to the emotion, while the opposite passions are
expressed with great intensity, and with the common chimpanzee it is
the same way, but not to the same extent.
The kulu in question was more of a coquette than she was of a shrew.
She plainly showed that she was fond of flattery. Not perhaps in the
same sense that a human being is, but she was certainly conscious
of approbation and fond of applause. When she accomplished anything
difficult, she seemed aware of it; and when she succeeded in doing a
thing which she was not allowed to do, she never failed to express
herself in the manner described above. She always appeared to be
perfectly conscious of being observed by others, but she was defiant
and composed. There was nothing known in the catalogue of mischief that
she was not ready to tackle at any moment and take her chances on the
result. From the stoke-hole to the funnel, from the jack-staff to the
rudder, she explored that boat.
To keep her out of mischief, she was tied on the saloon deck with a
long line, but no one aboard the vessel was able to tie a knot in the
line which she could not untie with dexterity and ease. Her master, who
was a sailor and an expert in the art of tying knots, exhausted his
efforts in trying to make one that would defy her skill.
On one occasion I was aboard the little steamer when the culprit was
brought up from the main deck where she had been in some mischief,
and tied to one of the rails along the side of the boat. The question
of tying her was discussed, and at length a new plan was devised. In
the act of untying a knot she always began with the part of the knot
that was nearest to her. It was now agreed to tie the line around one
of the rails on the side of the deck, about half-way between the two
stanchions that supported it, then to carry the loose ends of the line
to the stanchion and make it fast in the angle of it and the rail. This
was done. As soon as she was left alone she began to examine the knots;
but she made no attempt at first to untie them except to feel them as
if to see how firmly they were made. She then climbed up on the iron
rail around which the middle of the line was tied, and slackened the
knot. She pulled first at one strand and then at the other, but one
end was tied to the stanchion and the other to her neck, and she could
find no loose end to draw through. First one way and then the other
she drew this noose. She saw that in some way it was connected with
the stanchion. She drew the noose along the rail until it was near the
post; she climbed down upon the deck, then around the post and back
again; she climbed up over the rails and down on the outside, and again
carefully examined the knot; she climbed back, then through between the
rails and back, then under the rails and back, but she could find no
way to get this first knot out of the line. For a moment she sat down
on the deck, and viewed the situation with evident concern. She slowly
rose to her feet and again examined it; she moved the noose back to its
place in the middle of the rail, climbed up by it, and again drew it
out as far as the strands would allow. Again she closed it; she took
one strand in her hand and traced it from the loop to the stanchion,
then she took the other end in the same manner and traced it from the
loop to her neck. She looked at the loop and then slowly drew it out
as far as it would come. She sat for a while holding it in one hand,
and with the other moved each strand of the knot. She was in a deep
study, and did not even deign a glance at those who were watching her.
At length she took the loop in both hands, deliberately put it over
her head and crawled through it. The line thus released dropped to the
deck; she quickly descended, took hold of it near her neck, and found
that it was untied; she gathered it up as she advanced towards the
other end that was tied to the post, and at once began to loosen the
knots about it. In a minute more the last knot was released, when she
gathered the whole line into a bundle, looked at those around her with
that look of contempt which we have described, and departed at once in
search of other mischief. The air of triumph and contempt was enough to
convince any one of her opinion of what she had done.
If this feat was the result of instinct, the lexicons must find another
definition for that word. There were six white men who witnessed the
act, and the verdict of all was that she had solved a problem which few
children of her own age could have done. Every movement was controlled
by reason. The tracing out of cause and effect was too evident for any
one to doubt.
[Illustration: NATIVE VILLAGE AT GLASS GABOON]
Almost any animal can be taught to perform certain feats, but that does
not show the innate capacity. The only true measure of the faculty of
reason is to reduce the actor to his own resources, and see how he will
render himself under some new condition, otherwise the act will be,
at least in part, mechanical or imitative. In all my efforts to study
the mental calibre of animals I have confined them strictly to their
own judgment, and left them to work out the problem alone. By this
means only can we estimate to what extent they apply the faculty of
reason. No one doubts that all animals have minds, which are receptive
in some degree. But it has often been said that they are devoid of
reason, and controlled alone by some vague attribute called instinct.
Such is not the case. It is the same faculty of the mind that men
employ to solve the problems that arise in every sphere of life. It
is the one which sages and philosophers have used in every phase of
science. It differs in degree, but not in kind.
This kulu-kamba knew the use of a corkscrew. This she had acquired
from seeing it applied by men. While she could not use it herself with
success, she often tried and never applied it to the wrong purpose.
She would take the deck broom and scrub the deck, unless there was
water on it, in which event she always left the job. She did not seem
to know the purpose of sweeping the deck, and never swept the dirt
before the broom. This was doubtless imitative. She only grasped the
idea that a broom was used to scrub the deck, but she failed to observe
the effect produced. However, it cannot be said with certainty to what
extent she was aware of the effect, but it is inferred from the fact
that she did not try to remove the dirt.
She knew what coal was intended for, and often climbed into the bunker
and threw it down by the furnace door. The furnace door and steam gauge
were two things that escaped her busy fingers. I do not know how she
learned the danger of them, but she never touched them. She had to be
watched to keep her from seizing the machinery. For this she seemed to
have a strong desire, but did not know the danger she incurred.
I was aboard a ship when a trader brought off from the beach a young
kulu to be sent to England. The little captive sat upright on the deck
and seemed aware that he was being sent away. At any rate his face
wore a look of deep concern as if he had no friend to whom he could
appeal. On approaching him I spoke to him, using his own word for food.
He looked up and promptly answered it. He looked as if in doubt as to
whether I was a big ape or something else. I repeated the sound, and he
repeated the answer and came towards me. As he approached me I again
gave the sound. He came up and sat by my feet for a moment, looking
into my face. I uttered the sound again, when he took hold of my leg
and began to climb up as if it had been a tree. He climbed up to my
neck and began to play with my lips, nose and ears. We at once became
friends, and I tried to buy him, but the price asked was more than I
desired to pay. I regretted to part with him, but he was taken back to
the beach, and I never saw him again.
On another occasion one was brought aboard, and after speaking to him
I gave him an orange; he began to eat it and at the same time caught
hold of the leg of my trousers as if he did not wish me to leave him. I
petted and caressed him for a moment and turned away, but he held on to
me. He waddled about over the deck, holding on to my clothes, and would
not release me. He was afraid of his master and the native boy who had
him in charge. He was a timid creature, but was quite intelligent, and
I felt sorry for him because he seemed to realise his situation.
On the same voyage I saw one in the hands of a German trader. It was a
young male, about one year old. He promptly answered the food sound,
and I called him to come to me; but this he neither answered nor
complied with. He looked at me as if to ask where I had learned his
language. I repeated the sound several times, but elicited no answer.
I have elsewhere called attention to the fact that these apes do not
answer the call when they can see the one who makes it, and they do not
always comply with it. In this respect they behave very much the same
as young children, and it may be remarked that one difficulty in all
apes is to secure fixed attention. This is exactly the same with young
children. Even when they clearly understand, sometimes they betray no
sign of having heard it. At other times they show that they both hear
and understand, but do not comply.
Another specimen that was brought aboard a ship when I was present
was a young male, something less than two years old. He was sullen
and morose. He did not resent my approaches, but he did not encourage
them. I first spoke to him with the food sound, but he gave no heed.
I retired a little distance from him and called him, but he paid no
attention. I then used the sound of warning; he raised his head, and
looked in the direction from which the sound came. I repeated it, and
he looked at me for a moment and turned his head away. I repeated it
again. He looked at me, then looked around as if to see what it meant,
and again resumed his attitude of repose.
On my last voyage to the coast I saw a very good specimen in the Congo.
It was a female, a little more than two years old. She was also of a
dark complexion, but quite intelligent. She had been captured north of
there, and within the limits elsewhere described. At the time I saw her
she was ill and under treatment, but her master, the British consul,
told me that when she was well she was bright and sociable. I made no
attempt to talk with her, except some time after, having left her, I
gave the call sound, which she answered by looking around the corner of
the house. I do not know whether she would have come or not, as she was
tied and could not have done so had she desired to.
I have seen a few other specimens of this ape, and most of them appear
to be of a somewhat higher order than the ordinary chimpanzee, but
there is among them a wide range of intelligence. It would be a risk to
say whether the lowest specimen of kulu is higher or lower than the
highest specimen of the common chimpanzee or not, but taken as a whole
they are much superior. I shall not describe at length the specimens
which have been known in captivity, since most of them have been amply
described by others; but it is not out of place to mention some of them.
If proper conditions were afforded to keep a pair of kulus in training
for some years, it is difficult to say what they might not be taught.
They are not only apt in learning what they are taught, but they are
well-disposed, and can apply their accomplishment to some useful end.
We cannot say to what extent they may be able to apply what they learn
from man, because the necessity of doing so is removed by the attention
given them.
CHAPTER XIV
GORILLAS
In the order of nature the gorilla occupies the second place below man.
His habitat is in the lowlands of West Tropical Africa, and is confined
to very narrow limits. The vague line which bounds his realm cannot be
defined with absolute precision, but those generally given in books
that treat of him are not correct. If he ever occupied any part of the
coast north of the equator, he has long since become extinct in that
part, but there is nothing to show that he ever did exist there. So
far as I have been able to trace the lines that prescribe his native
haunts, he appears to be confined to the low, delta country, lying
between the Equator and Loango along the coast, and reaching eastward
to the interior, an average distance of about one hundred miles. The
eastern boundary is very irregular. To be more exact, the extreme limit
on the north side would be the Gaboon River to its head-waters, thence
southward to the Ogowe River to the mouth of the Nguni River; up that
river twenty or thirty miles, thence a zigzag line along the western
base of the dividing lands between the Congo basin and the Atlantic
watershed, to the head-waters of the Chi Loango River, and with that
to the coast. Beyond these lines I have never been able to find any
trace of him, and along this boundary only now and then are they found.
I have seen two adult and two infant skulls of the gorilla that were
brought by Mr. Wm. S. Cherry, from the Kisango Valley, which lies north
of the middle Congo in the interior. The skulls are the only evidence
I have ever found of this ape existing so far eastward, but they were
said to have come from that part of the valley lying directly under the
equator. Mr. Cherry did not collect them himself, but secured them from
natives, and does not claim to have seen any of these apes alive.
There appear to be three centres of population: the first is in the
basin of Izanga Lake; the second in the basin of Lake Fernan Vaz; and
the third in the basin of the lake behind Sette Kama. They are rarely
ever found in high or hilly districts, but appear to inhabit the
hummock lands, which are only elevated a few feet above tide-level.
This is singular, from the fact that the ape has a morbid dislike for
deep water, and I think it doubtful if he can swim, although he has one
peculiar character that belongs to aquatic animals, which is a kind of
web between the digits, but its purpose cannot be to aid in swimming.
I have been told that the gorilla can swim, and it may be true; but I
have never observed anything in his habits to confirm this, while I
have noted many facts that controvert it.
I know of no valid reason why he should be confined so strictly
within the limits mentioned, unless it be from a condition of climate
which seems peculiar to this district. South of it the climate along
the coast is much cooler, and the country back of it is hilly and
barren; north of the Equator is a land of perpetual rain, while to the
eastward, it is mountainous. Within this district the rainy and dry
seasons are more fixed and uniform.
The gorilla appears to be an indigenous product which does not bear
transplanting; he thrives only in a low, hot and humid region, infested
by malaria, miasma and fevers. It is doubtful if he can long survive in
a pure atmosphere.
The only single specimen that I have ever heard of north of the
equator, was one on the south side of the Komo River, which is the
north branch of the Gaboon. The point at which I heard of him was
within a few miles of the equator. I also heard of five having been
seen a few miles south-west from Njole, which is located on the Equator
on the south side of the Ogowe, a little way east of the Nguni, and
they were said to be the first ever seen in that part within the memory
of man.
[Illustration: NATIVES SKINNING A GORILLA]
As to their being found between Gaboon and Cameroon, I can find no
trace along the coast of one ever having been seen in that part.
Certain writers have mentioned the fact that in 1851 and 1852 they came
in great numbers from the interior to the coast. From such a statement
it might be inferred that they were seen in herds or armies together,
while the truth was that in those years a few more gorillas appeared
to be in the jungle than was usual, but they were not north of the
Gaboon River. They were in the Ogowe delta about 1° south latitude;
but no one ever supposed that they came from the Crystal Mountains or
any other mountains. At that time neither traders nor missionaries
had ascended the Gaboon River above Parrot Island (which is less than
twenty miles from the mouth), except to make a flying trip by canoe,
and nothing was known of that part except what was learned from the
natives, and that was very little. During my first voyage I went
up that river as far as Nenge Nenge, about seventy-five miles from
the coast. I spent two days there with a white trader who had been
stationed there for a year, and I was assured by him that there were
no gorillas known in that part. The natives report that they have been
found in the lowlands south of there in the direction of the Ogowe
basin; but their reports are conflicting, and none of them, so far
as I could learn, claim that he is found north of there, nor in the
mountains eastward. I admit the possibility that he has been found and
may yet inhabit the strip of land between this river and the Ogowe, but
I repeat that there is no proof that he was ever found north of the
Gaboon. With due respect to Sir Richard Owen and others who have never
been in that country, I insist that they are mistaken.
It is true that one of the tribes living north of the Gaboon has a name
for this animal, but it does not follow that he lives in that country.
The Orunga tribe have a name for lion, but there is not such a beast
within 400 miles of their country, and not one of that tribe ever saw
one.
A vast number of specimens have been secured at Gaboon, but they have
been brought there from far away, because it is the chief town of the
colony, and there are more white men there to buy them than elsewhere.
It is quite impossible for a stranger to ascertain what part a specimen
is brought from. The native hunter will not tell the truth lest some
one else should find the game and thus deprive him of its capture and
sale.
I once saw a specimen at Cameroon, and was told that it had been
captured in that valley fifty miles from the coast; but I hunted up
its history and found with absolute certainty that it was captured
near Mayumba, 200 miles south of Gaboon. Even with the greatest care
in hunting up the history of specimens one may fail, and often does
in tracing it to its true source, but every one so far, that I have
followed up, has been brought somewhere within the limits I have laid
down. Contrary to the statement of some authorities that these apes
"have never been seen on the coast" since 1852, the greatest number of
them are found near the coast. I do not mean to say that they sit on
the sand along the beach, or bathe in the surf, but they live in the
jungle of that part.
Along the Lower Congo the gorilla is known only in name, and scores of
the natives do not know even that. The nearest point to that river
that I have been able to locate the gorilla as a native, is in the
territory about sixty or seventy miles north-west of Stanley Pool.
I am indebted to the late Carl Steckelmann, who was drowned at Mayumba
in my presence last October. He was an old resident of the coast, a
good explorer, a careful observer, and an extensive traveller. I knew
him well, and secured from him much information concerning the gorilla.
He traced out with me, on a map, what he believed to be the south and
south-east limits of the gorilla. Not thirty minutes before the fatal
accident in which he lost his life, I had closed arrangements with
him to make an expedition from Mayumba to the Congo, near Stanley
Pool, by one route, and return by another, but his death prevented its
fulfilment.
Dr. Wilson, who was the first missionary at Gaboon and located there
in 1842, wrote a lexicon of the native language about six years after
that time. In this he entirely omits the name of the gorilla. Dr.
Walker eight years later gave the definition, "a monkey larger than a
man." But he had never seen a specimen of the ape, except the skulls
and a skeleton which were brought from other parts. It is true that
Dr. Savage first learned at Gaboon about the gorilla, and secured a
skull at that place from which he made drawings, and on which account
his name was attached to the animal in Natural History. Dr. Ford a few
years later sent the first skeleton to America, and Captain Harris
sent the first to England. The former is in the Museum of Zoology at
Philadelphia. Both of these specimens may have come from any place a
hundred miles away from Gaboon.
It is possible at this early date the gorilla may have occupied the
peninsula south of the Gaboon River, in greater numbers than he has
ever done since, because up to that time there had been no demand for
him; but if such was true at that time, it is not so now, and if he is
not extinct in that part, he is so rare as to make it doubtful whether
or not he is found there at all.
In four journeys along the Ogowe River and the lakes of that valley, I
made careful inquiries at many of the towns, and the natives assured
me that the gorillas lived on the south side of that river. I spent
five days at the village of Mbiro, which is located on the north side
of the river and about fifty miles from the coast. There I was told by
the native woodsmen that no gorillas lived on the north side, but there
were plenty of them along the lakes south of the river. They said that
in the forest back of that town were plenty of chimpanzees, and that
they were sometimes mistaken for gorillas, but there were absolutely
none of the latter in that part. In view of these and countless other
facts, I deem it safe to say that few or no gorillas can be found north
of the Ogowe River at any point, and I even doubt if the specimen heard
of on the Komo was a genuine gorilla. The natives sometimes claim to
have something of the kind for sale in order to get a bonus from some
trader, when in truth he may not have anything of the kind.
The only point north of the Ogowe at which I had any reason to believe
a gorilla could be found was in the neighbourhood of a small lake
called Inenga. This lake is nearly due west from the mouth of the Nguni
River and something more than a hundred miles from the coast. Certain
reports along that part appeared to have some flavour of truth, but
there was no proof except the word of the natives.
In the lake region south of the river they are fairly abundant as far
south as the head-waters of the Rembo Nkami and through the low country
of the Esyira tribe, but they are very rare in the forests, and unknown
in the highlands and plains of this country. South of the Chi Loango
they are quite unknown, and south of the Congo never heard of.
There are no means possible to estimate their number, but they are not
so numerous as may be supposed, and from the reckless slaughter of them
by the natives in order to secure them for white men, they may soon
become extinct. Their ferocity alone has saved them up to this time
from such a fate, but the use of approved arms will soon overcome that.
The skeleton of the gorilla is so nearly the same as that of the
chimpanzee, which has elsewhere been compared to the human skeleton,
that we shall not review the comparison at length, but must note one
marked feature in the external form of the skull, which differs alike
from other apes and man.
The skull of the young gorilla is much like that of the chimpanzee,
and remains so until he approaches the adult state; but as he
approaches this period, the ridge above the eyes becomes more
prominent, and at the same time a sharp, bony ridge begins to develop
along the temples, and continues around the back of the head on that
part of the skull called the occiput. At this point it is intersected
by another ridge at right angles to it. This is called the sagittal
ridge, and runs along the top of the head towards the face; but on the
forehead it flattens nearly to the level of the skull, and divides
into two very low ridges, which turn off to a point above the eyes
and merges into that ridge. These appear to be a continuous part of
the skull, and are not joined to it by sutures. The mesial crest in
very old specimens rises to the height of nearly two inches above the
surface of the skull, and imparts to it a fierce and savage aspect;
but in the living animal the crests are not seen, as the depressions
between them are filled with large muscles, which make the head look
very much larger than it would otherwise. These crests affect only the
exterior of the skull, and do not appear to alter the form or size
of the brain cavity, which is larger in proportion than that of the
chimpanzee. These crests are peculiar to the male gorilla, and the
female skull shows no trace of them.
[Illustration: PLATE I]
[Illustration: PLATE II]
There is at least one case in which this crest has failed to develop in
the male. By reference to the series of skulls found in the cuts given
herewith, No. 6 is that of an adult male, which I know to be such, as
I dissected him and prepared the skeleton myself. He was killed
in the basin of Lake Fernan Vaz, not more than two or three hours from
my cage, and his body was brought to me at once. A good idea of his
size can be obtained by reference to another cut given herewith, where
I have some natives skinning him. In this picture he is sitting flat
on the sand; his body is limp, and is somewhat shorter than it was in
life, and yet it can be seen that the top of his head is higher than
the hip of the man who is holding him. On the left of the gorilla, in
the foreground, sits the man who killed him. He is sitting on a log,
and it did not occur to me until too late to place them side by side
in order to make a comparison. The body and head of this gorilla as
he sits measured nearly four feet from the base of the spinal column
to the top of the head. I did not weigh him, but made an estimate by
lifting him in my hand, and believed he weighed at least 240 lbs. Yet
he was not an old specimen, but if compared to No. 7, in which the
crests are well developed, it is found to be larger, and other things
point to the fact that he was older.
I am aware that one specimen of itself does not prove anything, but it
shows in this case that this ape does not always develop that crest.
His head was surmounted by the red crown which we have described,
and No. 1, which is the skull of Othello, had the same mark. He was
captured near the place where No. 6 was killed. No. 2, which is the
skull of a young female nearly four years old, had the same, and she
was also captured in the same basin, but on the opposite side of the
lake.
The facial bones of No. 6 showed that the animal had received a severe
blow in early life, but the fragments had knitted together, and the
effect could not be seen in the face of the ape while alive. In this
same picture it will be noticed that the lower lip hangs down so low
that the mouth is opened. The lip is very massive and mobile, and in
this character he resembles the negro. The lower lip is much thicker
and more flexible than the upper.
No. 8 is the skull of a large male from Lake Izanga, which is on the
south side of the Ogowe River, more than a hundred miles from the
coast, and is one of the three centres of population mentioned. I do
not know its history. It was presented to me by Mr. James Deemin, an
English trader with whom I travelled many days in the Ogowe River; and
I wish here to take occasion to express my sincere thanks to him for
the many kindnesses extended to me.
No. 5 is the skull of an adult female. By comparing it in profile to
No. 6 it will be seen that they resemble, but the muzzle of the latter
projects a little more, and the curvature of the skull across the top
is less: the distance a little greater.
Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are female; the others are all male.
Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 belong to the Liverpool Museum, but are shown
here for comparison. The other four are all at Toronto University.
While this series is not complete in either sex, it is an excellent one
for comparative study.
I do not know whether the heads of those with the crests were the
same colour as No. 6 or not, but the _ntyii_, which I have mentioned
as possibly a new species of the gorilla, does not have this crown of
red. His ears are also said to be larger than those of the gorilla, but
smaller than the chimpanzee's, and he is reputed to grow to a larger
size than either of them.
The skin of the gorilla is a dull black or mummy colour over the body,
but that of the face is a jet black, quite smooth and soft. It looks
almost like velvet.
One fact peculiar to this ape is, that the palms of both hands and
feet are perfectly black. In other animals these are usually lighter
in colour than the exposed parts. In all races of men, in all other
apes, monkeys, baboons, and lemurs, the palms are lighter than the
backs of the hands, and the same is true of the feet. The thumb of the
gorilla is more perfect than that of the chimpanzee, yet it is smaller
in proportion to the hand than in man. The hand is very large, but has
more the shape of the hand of a woman than that of man. The fingers
taper in a graceful manner, but appear much shorter, by reason of the
web alluded to, than they really are. It is not really a web, in the
true sense, but the integument between the fingers is extended down
almost to the second joint, but the forward edge of the web, when the
fingers are spread, is concave; when brought together, the skin on the
knuckles becomes wrinkled, and the web almost disappears. This effect
is more readily noticed in the living animal than in the dead. The
texture of the skin in the palms is coarsely granulated, and the palmar
lines are indistinct. The great toe sets at an angle from the side of
the foot, like a thumb, but has more prehensile power than that of the
hand; but the foot is much less flexible, and has less prehensile power.
At this point I desire to draw attention to one important fact. The
tendons of the foot, which open and close the digits, are imbedded in
the palm in a deep layer of coarse, gristly matter, which forms a pad,
as it were, under the sole of the foot, and prevents it from bending;
therefore it is not possible for the gorilla to sleep on a perch. In
this respect he resembles man more than the chimpanzee does, but it
is quite certain that neither of them have the arboreal habit. The
gorilla is an expert climber, but cannot sleep in a tree. In the hand
the tendons which close the fingers are the same length as the line of
the bones, and this permits him to open the fingers to a straight line,
which the chimpanzee cannot do.
One other important point I desire to mention. The muscles in the leg
of a gorilla will not permit it to stand or walk erect. The large
muscle at the back of the leg is shorter than the line of the bones
of the leg above and below the knee; and when this muscle is brought
to a tension, those bones form an angle of about 130 degrees, or
thereabouts; and so long as the sum of two sides of a triangle is
greater than the other side, a gorilla can never bring his leg into a
straight line. In the infant state the muscle is pliant or elastic,
and the bones less rigid, so that in that state it can be made nearly
straight. The habit of hanging by the arms and walking with them in a
straight line develops the corresponding muscle in that member, so that
the bones can be brought in line.
The gorilla can stand upon his feet alone, and walk a few steps in that
position; but his motion is awkward, because his knees turn outward,
forming an angle of 30 or 35 degrees on either side of the mesial
plain. He never attempts to walk in this position, except at perfect
leisure, and then usually holds on to something with his hands. The
tallest gorilla known, when perfectly erect, is about 6 feet 2 inches.
The leg of the gorilla from the knee to the ankle is almost the same
size. In the human leg there is what is called the "calf" of the leg,
but this in the apes is very small; however, there is a slight tendency
in that direction, and it must be noted that in the human species the
calf of the leg appears to belong to the higher types of men; and as we
descend from the highest races of mankind this character disappears as
we approach the savage. The pigmies and the bushmen have the smallest
of any other men. It is not to be inferred from this that apes would
ever have this feature developed in them by elevating them to a higher
plane so long as they remained apes; but it is possible that such a
result would follow in the course of time.
One thing which tends to lessen this in the gorilla is the size of the
muscles about the ankle and the flexibility of that joint. Also the
joint of the knee, being much larger in proportion to the leg, makes
the calf appear smaller than it really is.
The corresponding part of the arm is more like that part of the human
body.
In a sitting posture the gorilla rests his body upon the ischial
bones, with his legs extended or crossed, while the chimpanzee usually
squats, resting those bones upon his heels. He sometimes sits, but more
frequently squats. When in these attitudes, both usually fold their
arms across their breasts.
The hair of the gorilla is irregular in growth. It is more dense than
that of the chimpanzee, but less uniform in size and distribution.
On the breast it is very sparse, on the arms, long, and on the back,
dense, and interspersed with long coarse hairs. The ground of colour
is black, but the extreme end of the hair is tipped with pale white.
This is so in early youth, and with age the white encroaches, until,
in extreme age, the animal is quite grey. The top of the head is
covered with a thick growth of short hair, of a dark tan colour, which
looks almost like a wig. This mark seems to be peculiar to certain
localities, but is uniform among those captured in the Fernan Vaz basin.
[Illustration: YOUNG GORILLA WALKING]
A white trader living on this lake claims to have seen a gorilla which
was perfectly white. It was seen on the plain near the lake. It was
in company with three or four others. It was thought to be an albino,
but in my opinion it was only a very aged specimen turned grey. A few
of them have been secured that were almost white. It is not, however,
such a shade of white as would be found in an animal whose normal
colour is white. I cannot vouch for the colour of this ape seen on the
plain, but there must have been something peculiar in it to attract so
much attention among the natives.
So far, only one species of this ape is known to science, but there
are reasons to believe that two species exist. In the forest regions
of Esyira the natives described to me another kind of ape, which they
averred was a half-brother to the gorilla. They know the gorilla by
the native name _njina_, and the other type by the name _ntyii_. They
did not confuse this with the native name _ntyigo_, which is the name
of the chimpanzee, nor with _kulu-kamba_, all of which are known to
them; but they described in detail, and quite correctly, the three
known kinds of ape, and in addition gave me a minute account of the
appearance and habits of the fourth kind, which I believe to be another
species of the gorilla. They claim that he is more intelligent and
human-like than any one of the others; and they say that his superior
wisdom makes him more alert, and therefore more difficult to find. He
is said always to live in parts of the forest most remote from human
habitation.
The dental formula of the gorilla is the same as that of man, but
the teeth are larger and stronger, and the canine teeth are developed
almost into huge tusks. One thing to be remarked is the great variety
of malformations in the teeth of this animal. It is a rare thing to
find among them a perfect set of teeth, except in infancy. The cause of
this appears to be violence or accident.
The eyes of the gorilla are large, dark, and expressive, but there
is no trace of white in them. That part of the eye which is white in
man is a dark coffee-brown in the gorilla, but becomes lighter as it
approaches the base of the optic nerve. The taxidermist or the artist,
who often furnishes him with a white spot in the corner of his eye,
does violence to the subject; and those who pose the animal with his
mouth open like a fly-trap, and his arms raised like a lancer, ought
to be banished from good society. It is true that such things lend an
aspect of ferocity to the creature, but they are caricatures of the
thing they mean to portray.
The ears of the gorilla are very small, and lie close to the sides of
the head. The model of them is much like the human ear.
I shall not pursue the comparison into minute details, but leave
that to the specialist, in whose hands it will be treated with more
skill and greater scope. As my especial line of research has been
in the study of their speech and habits, I shall confine myself to
that, but the general comparison I have made is necessary to a better
understanding of the subject.
CHAPTER XV
HABITS OF THE GORILLA
A study of the habits of the gorilla in a wild state is attended with
much difficulty, but the results that I obtained during a sojourn
of one year among them are an ample reward for the efforts made. In
a state of captivity the habits of animals are made to conform in a
measure to their surroundings, and since those are different many of
their habits differ also. Some are foregone, others modified, and new
ones acquired, therefore we cannot know with certainty what the animal
was in a state of nature. In the social life of the gorilla there are a
few things perhaps that differ very much from that of the chimpanzee,
but there are some that do in a certain degree. From the native
accounts of the modes of life of these two apes, there would appear to
be a much greater difference than a systematic study of them reveals;
but the native version of things frequently has a germ of truth which
may serve as a clue to the facts in the case; and while we cannot rely
upon the tales they relate in all details, we can forgive the mendacity
and make use of the suggestion they furnish.
It is certain that the gorilla is polygamous in habit, and it is
probable that he has an incipient idea of government. Within certain
limits he has a faint perception of order and justice, if not of right
and wrong. I do not mean to ascribe to him the highest attributes of
man, or exalt him above the plane to which his faculties assign him;
but there are reasons to justify the belief that he occupies a higher
social and mental sphere than other animals, except the chimpanzee.
In the beginning of his career, in independent life, the gorilla
selects a wife with whom he appears to sustain the conjugal relations
thereafter, and preserves a certain degree of marital fidelity. From
time to time he adopts a new wife, but does not discard the old one;
in this manner he gathers around him a numerous family, consisting of
his wives and their children. Each mother nurses and cares for her own
young, but all of them grow up together as the children of one family.
There is no doubt that the mother sometimes corrects and sometimes
chastises her young, which suggests a vague idea of propriety. The
father exercises the function of patriarch in the sense of a ruler, and
the natives call him _ikomba njina_, which means gorilla king. To him
the others all show a certain amount of deference. Whether this is due
to fear or to respect, however, is not certain, but here is at least
the first principle of dignity.
The gorilla family, consisting of this one adult male and a number of
females and their young, are within themselves a nation. There do
not appear to be any social relations between different families, but
within the same household there is apparent harmony.
The gorilla is nomadic, and rarely ever spends two nights in the
same place. Each family roams about in the bush from place to place
in search of food, and wherever they may be when night comes on they
select a place to sleep and retire. The largest family of gorillas that
I have ever heard of was estimated to contain twenty members. But the
usual number is not more than ten or twelve. The chimpanzee appears
to go in larger groups than these, and sometimes in a single group
two or even three adult males have been seen. When the young gorilla
approaches the adult state, he leaves the family group, finds himself
a mate, and sets out in the world for himself. I observed that, as a
rule, when one gorilla was seen alone in the forest it was usually a
young male, but nearly grown; it is probable that he was then in search
of a wife. At other times two only are seen together, and in this
event they are usually a pair of male and female, and generally young.
Again, it sometimes occurs that three adults are seen with two or three
children; often one of the children two or three years old, and the
others a year younger, which would indicate that the male had had one
of his wives much longer than the other. In large families young ones
of all ages, from one year old to five or six years old, are seen; but
the fact is plain that the older children are much fewer in number. I
have once seen a large female with her babe, quite alone; whether she
lived alone or was only absent for the moment I cannot tell.
The king gorilla does not provide food for his family, but, on the
contrary, it is said they provide for him. I have been informed on two
occasions, from different sources, that the king gorilla has been seen
sitting quietly under the shade of a tree, eating, while the others
collected and brought to him the food. I have never witnessed such a
scene myself, but it does not seem probable that the same story would
have come from two sources unless there was some foundation for it.
In the matter of government, the gorilla appears to be somewhat more
advanced than most animals. He leads the others on the march, and
selects their feeding grounds and places to sleep; he breaks camp, and
the others all obey him in these respects. Other animals that travel
in groups do the same thing; but in addition to this, the natives aver
that the gorillas from time to time hold palavers or a rude form of
court or council in the jungle. On these occasions, it is said the king
presides; that he sits alone in the centre, while the others stand or
sit in a rough semicircle about him, and talk in an excited manner.
Sometimes the whole of them are talking at once, but what it means or
alludes to no native undertakes to say, except that it has the nature
of a quarrel. To what extent the king gorilla exercises the judicial
function is a matter of grave doubt, but there appears to be some real
ground for the story.
As to the succession of the kingship there is no certainty, but the
facts point to the belief that on the death of the king, if there be
an adult male he assumes the royal prerogative, otherwise the family
disbands, and they are absorbed by or attached to other families.
Whether this new leader is elected in the manner that other animals
appoint a leader, or assumes it by reason of his age, cannot be said;
but there is no doubt that in many instances families remain intact for
a time after the death of their leader.
It has been said by many that the gorilla builds a rude hut or shelter
for himself and family, but I have found no evidence that such is
true. The natives declare that he does so, and some white men affirm
the same; but during my travels through their habitat, I offered
liberal and frequent rewards to any native who would show me one of
these specimens of simian architecture, but I was never able to find
any trace of one made or occupied by any ape. They may sometimes, and
doubtless do, take shelter from the tornadoes, but it is always under
some fallen tree or cluster of broad leaves, and there is nothing to
show that they arrange any part of them. So far as I could find, there
is no proof that any gorilla ever put two sticks together with the idea
of shelter. As to his throwing sticks or stones at an enemy, I have
found nothing to verify it; in my opinion, it is a mere freak of fancy.
The current opinion or idea that a gorilla will attack a man without
being provoked to it, is an error. He is shy and timid, and shrinks
alike from man and other large animals. I have no doubt that when he is
in a rage he is both fierce and powerful, but his ferocity and strength
are rated above their true value. In combat he is a stubborn foe no
doubt, but no one that I have met has ever seen him thus engaged.
The mode of attack as described by many travellers is a mere theory.
It is said in this act he walks erect, beats with fury on his breast,
roars and yells, and in this manner seizes his adversary, tears open
his breast, and drinks the blood. I have never seen a large gorilla
in the act of assault. During the time of my stay in the jungle I had
a young gorilla in captivity, and I made use of him in studying the
habits of his race. I kept him tied with a long line which allowed
him room to play and climb, and at the same time prevented him from
escaping into the forest, which he always tried to do the instant he
was released. I released him frequently for the purpose of watching his
mode of attack when recaptured. While being pursued he rarely looked
back, but when overtaken he invariably assailed his captor. This gave
me an opportunity of seeing his method of attack, in which he displayed
both skill and judgment. As my boy would approach him, he would calmly
turn with one side to the foe and, without facing the boy, would roll
his eyes in such a manner as to see him and at the same time conceal
his purpose. When the boy came within reach, the gorilla would grasp
him with a thrust of the arm to one side and slightly backward. When
he had seized his adversary by the leg, he would instantly swing the
other arm round with a long sweep and strike the boy a hard blow; then
he began to use his teeth. He seemed to depend more upon the blow than
the grasp, but the latter served to hold the object of attack within
reach; in every case he kept one arm and one leg in reserve until he
had seized his adversary. It is true that these attacks were made upon
an enemy in pursuit, but his mode appeared to be a normal one; he
could strike a severe blow, and did not show any sign of tearing or
scratching his opponent. In these attacks he made no sound of any kind.
I do not pretend to say that other gorillas do not scream or tear their
victims, but I take it that the habits of the young are much, if not
quite, the same as those of their parents, and from a study of this
specimen I am forced to modify many opinions imbibed from reading or
from pictures and specimens which I have seen. Many of them represent
the gorilla in absurd and sometimes impossible attitudes. They
certainly do not represent him as I have seen him in his native wilds.
When the chimpanzee attacks, so far as I have seen among my own
specimens, he approaches his enemy and strikes with both hands, one
slightly in advance of the other. After striking a few blows, he will
grasp his opponent and use his teeth, then shoving him away again
uses his hands, and usually, on beginning the attack, accompanies the
assault with a loud, piercing scream. Neither he nor the gorilla
closes the hand to strike, nor uses any weapon except the hands and
teeth. I had another young female gorilla for a short time as a subject
for study. Her mode of attack appeared to be the same, but she was too
large to risk in such experiments.
I have read and heard descriptions of the sounds made by the gorilla,
but nothing ever conveyed to my mind an adequate idea of their true
nature, until I heard them myself within a few hundred feet of my
cage in the dead of night. By some it has been called roaring, and by
others howling; but it is neither truly a roar nor a howl. They utter a
peculiar combination of sounds, beginning in a low, smooth tone, which
rapidly increases in pitch and frequency, until it becomes a terrific
scream. The first part of the series is quite within the scope of the
human voice, but as it rises in pitch and increases in volume it passes
far beyond the reach of the human lungs. The first sound of the series
and each alternate sound is made by expiration, while the intermediate
ones appear to be by inspiration, but how it is accomplished is
difficult to say. The sound as a whole resembles the braying of an
ass, except the notes are shorter, the climax higher, and the sound is
louder. A gorilla does not yell in this manner every night, but when he
does so it is usually between two and five o'clock in the morning; I
have never heard the sound during the day nor in the early part of the
night. When he thus screams, he repeats the series from ten to twenty
times, at intervals of one or two minutes each. I know of nothing in
the way of vocal sounds that can inspire such terror as the voice of
the gorilla. It can be heard over a distance of three or four miles. I
could assign no definite meaning to it unless it was intended to alarm
some intruder that came too near.
One morning between three and four o'clock I heard two of them
screaming at the same time. I do not mean to say at the same instant,
but at intervals during the same period of time. One of them was within
about a third of a mile of me, and the other in another direction
perhaps a mile away. The points we occupied respectively formed a
scalene triangle. The sounds did not appear to have any reference to
each other. Sometimes they would alternate, and at other times they
would interrupt each other. They were both made by giants of their
kind, and every leaf in the forest vibrated with the sound. This was
during the latter part of May. They do scream in this way from time to
time throughout the year, but it is most frequent and violent during
February and March.
This wild screaming is sometimes accompanied by a peculiar beating
sound. It has been described by travellers, and currently believed to
be made by the animal beating with his hands upon his breast; but such
is not the case. It is very certain that the sound cannot be made by
that means. The quality of the sound shows that such cannot be the
means employed. I have heard this beating several times, and have paid
marked attention to its character. At a great distance it would be
difficult to discern the exact quality; but on one occasion, while
stopping over-night in a native town, I was aroused from sleep by a
gorilla screaming and beating within a few hundred yards. I put on my
boots, took my rifle, and cautiously crossed the open ground between
the village and the forest. This brought me within about two hundred
yards of the animal. The moon was faintly shining, but I could not see
the beast, and I had no desire to approach nearer at such a time, but I
heard distinctly every stroke. I believe the sound was made by beating
upon a log or piece of dead wood. He was beating with both hands, the
strokes alternating with great rapidity, and not unlike the manner
in which the natives beat a drum, except that the hand made the same
number of strokes, and the strokes were in a constant series, rising
and falling from very soft to very loud, and _vice versâ_. A number of
these runs followed one another during the time the voice continued.
Between the first and second strokes the interval was slightly longer
than that between the second and third, and so on through the scale. As
the beating increased in loudness the interval shortened in an inverse
degree, while in descending the scale the intervals lengthened as the
beating softened, and the author of the sound was conscious of this
fact. I could trace no relation in time or harmony between the sound of
the voice and the beating, except that they began at the same time and
ended at the same time. The same series of vocal sounds was repeated
each time, beginning on the low note and ending on the highest note
or pitch in each case, while the rise and fall of the series of the
beaten sounds was not measured by the duration of the voice. The series
each time began with a soft note, but ended at any part of the scale at
which the voice ceased, and was not the same in every case.
[Illustration: NATIVE CARRIER BOY]
I have no doubt that the gorilla beats upon his breast: he has been
seen to do so in captivity, but the sounds described above were not so
made. Since the gorilla makes these sounds only at night, it is not
probable that any man ever saw him in the act. It does not require a
delicate sense of hearing to distinguish a sound made by beating the
breast from that of dead wood or other similar substance.
I have attributed the above sound to the gorilla, because I have been
assured by many white men and scores of natives that it was made by
him; but since my return from Africa I have had time to consider and
digest certain facts tabulated on that trip, and as a result I am led
to doubt whether this sound is made by the gorilla or not. There are
good reasons to believe that it is made by the chimpanzee instead, and
I shall state them.
I observed that my own chimpanzees made this sound exactly the same
as that I heard in the forest, except that it was less in volume,
which was due to their age. I could induce them at any time to make
the sound, and frequently did so in order to study it. On my arrival
in New York I found that Chico, the big chimpanzee belonging to Mr.
Bailey, frequently made the same sound at night. It was said to be so
loud and piercing that it fairly shook the stately walls of Madison
Square Garden. From reading the description given by the late Professor
Romanes of the sound made by "Sally" in the London Gardens, it appears
to be the same sound.
It is well known to the natives that the chimpanzees beat on some
sonorous body, which they call a drum. Four years ago I called
attention to the habit of the two chimpanzees in the Cincinnati
Gardens. They frequently indulged in beating upon the floor of their
cage with their knuckles. This was done chiefly by the male. The late
E. J. Glave described to me the same thing, as being done by the
chimpanzees in the Middle Congo basin.
It is not probable that two animals of different genera utter the
same exact sound, and this is more especially true of a sound that is
complex or prolonged. Neither is it likely that the two would have a
common habit, such as beating on any sonorous body. Since it is certain
that one of these apes does make the sound described, it is more than
probable that the other does not. The same logic applies to the beating.
Many things that are known of the chimpanzee are taken for granted in
the gorilla, but it is erroneous to suppose that in such habits as
these they would be identical. In some cases I have been able to prove
quite conclusively that the chimpanzee alone did certain things which
were ascribed to the gorilla.
In view of these facts alone, I am inclined to believe that after all,
the sound described is made by the chimpanzee and not by the gorilla.
Another case in which the gorilla is portrayed is wrong. The female
gorilla is represented as carrying her young clinging to her waist.
I have seen the mother in the forest with her young mounted upon
her back, with its arms around her neck and its feet hooked in her
armpits. I have never seen the male carry the young, but in a number of
specimens of advanced age I have seen a mark upon the back and sides
which indicates that he does so. It is in the same place that the young
rest upon the back of the mother. In form it is like an inverted =Y=,
with the base resting on the neck and the prongs reaching under the
arms. This mark is not one of nature, but appears to be the imprint of
something carried there. In a few specimens the hair is worn off until
the skin is almost bare. The prongs are more worn than the stem of the
figure, which is due to the fact that more weight is borne upon those
parts than elsewhere. I do not assert that such is the cause, but it is
worthy of note that such is the fact.
The gorilla is averse to human society. He is morose and sullen in
captivity. He frets and pines for his liberty. His face appears to be
incapable of expressing anything like a smile, but when in repose it
is not repugnant. In anger his visage depicts the savage instincts
of his nature. The one which lived with me for a time in the forest
was a sober, solemn, stoical creature, and nothing could arouse in
him a spirit of mirth. The only pastime he indulged in was turning
somersaults. Almost every day, at intervals of an hour or so, he would
stand up for a moment, then put his head upon the ground, turn over
like a boy, rise to his feet again, and look at me as if expecting my
applause. He would frequently repeat this act a dozen times or more,
but never smiled or evinced any sign of pleasure. He was selfish,
cruel, vindictive, and retiring.
One peculiar habit of the gorilla, both wild and in captivity, is that
of relaxing the lower lip when in repose. They drop the lid until a
small red line appears across the mouth from side to side. It is not
done when in a sullen mood, but when perplexed or in a deep study.
Another constant habit is to protrude the end of the tongue between the
lips, until it is about even with the outer edge of them. The end of
the tongue is somewhat more blunted than that of the human. This habit
is so frequent with the young gorilla that it would appear to have some
meaning, but I cannot suggest what it is.
The habit of the gorilla, in sleeping, is to lie upon the back or side,
with one or both arms placed under the head as a pillow. He cannot
sleep on a perch, as we have already noted, but lies upon the ground at
night. I had once pointed out to me the place at the base of a large
tree where a school of them had slept the night before. One imprint was
quite distinct. The stories told about the king gorilla placing his
family in a tree while he sits on watch at the base, is another case of
supposition.
[Illustration: A YOUNG GORILLA ASLEEP]
The food of the gorilla is not confined to plants and fruits. They are
fond of meat, and eat it either raw or cooked. They secure a small
supply by catching rodents of various kinds, lizards and toads; they
are also known to rob the nests of birds of the eggs, and of the young.
A native once pointed out to me the quills and bones of a porcupine
which he said had been left by a gorilla who had eaten the carcass, and
he said that it was not at all rare for them to do so. The fruits and
plants they live upon chiefly are acidulous in taste, and some of them
are bitter. They often eat the fruit of the plantain, but prefer the
stalk, which they twist and break open and eat the succulent heart of
the plant. They do the same with the _batuna_, which grows all through
the forest. The fruit of this plant is a red pod filled with seeds
imbedded in a soft pulp, it is slightly acidulate and astringent. The
wild mangrove which forms a staple article of food for the chimpanzee
is rarely, if ever, touched by the gorilla, and the same is true of
many other plants and fruits. I once saw a gorilla try to seize a
dog, but whether it was for the purpose of eating the flesh or not I
cannot say. One, however, did catch and devour a small dog on board the
steamer _Nubia_, while on a voyage home from Africa. Both belonged to
Captain Button, who assured me of the fact. They have no fixed hours
for eating, but usually do so in the early morning or late afternoon. I
have, in a few instances, seen them refuse meat. They are perhaps less
devoted to eating flesh than the chimpanzee.
In the act of drinking, the gorilla will take a cup, place the rim in
his mouth and drink like a human being. He does this without being
taught, while the chimpanzee prefers to put both lips in the vessel. I
have never known one that would drink beer, spirits, coffee or soup,
but their drink is limited to milk or water, while the chimpanzee
drinks beer and other things as well.
[Illustration: NATIVE WOMEN OF THE INTERIOR]
CHAPTER XVI
OTHELLO AND OTHER GORILLAS
While I was living in my cage in the jungle I secured a young gorilla,
to whom I gave the name "Othello." He was about one year old, strong,
hardy and robust. I found him to be a fine subject for study, and made
the best use of him for that purpose. I have elsewhere described his
character, but his illness and death are matters of profound interest.
At noon on the day of his decease he was quite well and in fine humour.
He was turning somersaults and playing like a child with my native boy.
In his play he evinced a certain interest, and his actions indicated
that it gave him pleasure, but his face never once betrayed the fact.
It was amusing to see him with the actions of a romping child and the
face of a cynic.
He was supplied with plenty of native food, had a good appetite, and
ate with a relish. Just after noon I sent the boy on an errand, and he
was expected to return about night. Near the middle of the afternoon
I observed that Othello was ill; he declined to eat or drink, and lay
on his back on the ground, with his arms under his head as a pillow.
I tried to induce him to walk with me, to play, or to sit up, but he
refused to do so. By four o'clock he was very ill. He rolled from side
to side, and groaned as if in pain. He kept one hand upon his stomach,
where the pain appeared to be located. He displayed all the symptoms of
gastric poisoning, and I have reason to believe now that the boy had
given him poison. I should regret to foster this suspicion against an
innocent person, but it is based upon certain facts that I have learned
since that time.
While I sat in my cage watching Othello, who lay on the ground a short
distance away, I discovered a native approaching him from the jungle.
The man had an uplifted spear in his hand, as if in the act of hurling
it at something. He had not seen me, but it did not for the moment
occur to me that he had designs upon my pet. I spoke to him in the
native language, when he explained that he had seen the young gorilla,
and from that fact suspected there was an old one close at hand, for
whose attack he was prepared: that he was not afraid of the little one,
but desired to capture it. I informed him that my gorilla was ill. He
examined it, and assured me that it would die. The man departed, and
Othello continued to grow worse. His sighing and groaning were really
touching. I gave him an emetic, which took effect with good results.
I also used some vaperoles to resuscitate him, but my skill was not
sufficient to meet the demands of his case.
His conduct was so like that of a human being that it deeply impressed
me, and being alone with him in the silence of the dreary forest at the
time of his demise, gave the scene a touch of sadness that impressed me
with a deeper sense of its reality; and Moses watched the dying ape as
if he knew what it meant. He showed no signs of regret, but his manner
was such as to suggest that he knew it was a trying hour.
Othello died just before sunset, but for a long time prior to this he
was unconscious. The only movements made by him were spasmodic actions
of the muscles caused by pain. The fixed and vacant stare of his eyes
in this last hour was so like those of man in the hour of dissolution,
that no one could look upon the scene and fail to realise the solemn
fact that this was death. The next day I dissected him, and prepared
the skin and skeleton to bring home with me. They are now, with Moses
and others, in the Museum of the University of Toronto; and if the
taxidermist who mounts the skin of Othello poses him like most of the
craft do--in the attitude of dancing a fandango and the corners of his
mouth forming obtuse angles--I will have that man executed if I have to
bribe the court.
When I first secured this ape and brought him to my home in the bush,
he was placed on the ground a few feet from my cage, and near him was
laid some bananas and sugar-cane for Moses, who had not yet seen the
stranger. The gorilla was in a box with one side open, so that he
could easily be seen. My purpose was to see how each one would act
on discovering the other. When Moses observed the food he proceeded
to help himself. On seeing the gorilla he paused a moment and gave me
an alarm, but he was not himself deterred from taking a banana, which
he seized and retreated. While he was eating the banana, I took the
gorilla from the cage and set him on the ground by it. I petted him,
and gave him some food. Moses looked on, but did not interfere. I
returned to my cage, and Moses proceeded to investigate the new ape.
He approached slowly and cautiously within about three feet of it. He
walked around it a couple of times, keeping his face towards it, and
gradually getting a little nearer. At length he stopped by one side
of the gorilla, and came up within a few inches of it. He appeared to
stand almost on tiptoe, with only the ends of his fingers touching the
ground. The gorilla continued to eat his food without so much as giving
him a look. Moses placed his mouth near the ear of the gorilla and gave
one terrific yell. But the gorilla did not flinch or even turn his
eyes. Moses stood for a moment looking at him as if in surprise that
he had made no impression. After this time he made many overtures to
make friends with the gorilla, but the latter did not entertain them
with favour beyond maintaining terms of peace. They never quarrelled,
but Othello always treated him as an inferior. I do not know if he
entertained a real feeling of contempt, but his manner was such.
There were but few articles of food that he and Moses liked in common,
and therefore they had no occasion to quarrel; but they never played
together or cultivated any friendly terms as the chimpanzees did among
themselves. This may have been due to the gorilla, who was so exclusive
in his demeanour towards the chimpanzee as to forbid all attempts
of the latter to become intimate. The chimpanzee by nature is more
sociable and is fond of human society. He imitates the actions of man
in many things, and quickly adapts himself to new conditions, while the
gorilla is selfish and retiring. He can seldom, if ever, be reconciled
to human society; he does not imitate man nor yield to the influences
of civilised life.
One special trait of the gorilla which I wish to emphasise is that he
is one of the most taciturn, if not quite the most, of any member of
the simian family. This fact does not appear to confirm my theory as
to their high type of speech, but it is a fact so far as I observed,
although the natives say that they are as loquacious as the chimpanzee.
Among the specimens that I have studied, both wild and in captivity, I
have never heard but four sounds that differed from each other, and of
these only two could properly be defined as speech. I do not include
the screaming sound described in another chapter. I have not been able
so far to translate the sounds that I have heard, and they cannot be
spelled with letters. There is one sound which Othello often used. It
was not a speech sound, but a kind of whine, always coupled with a deep
sigh. When left alone for a time he became oppressed with solitude.
At such times he would heave a deep sigh and utter this strange sound.
The tone and manner strongly appealed to the feelings of others, and
while he did not appear to address it to any one or have any design in
making it, it always touched a sympathetic chord, and I was sometimes
tempted to release him. Another sound which was not within the pale of
speech was a kind of grumbling sound. This frequently occurred when he
was eating. It was not a growl in the proper sense, but was in a way a
kind of complaint. Twice I heard this same sound made by wild ones in
the forest near my cage. The only thing that I can compare it to in its
use is that habit of a cat while eating, to make a peculiar growling
sound, which appears to be done only when something else is near. It is
possibly intended to deter others from trying to take the food.
During my life in the cage I saw a number of gorillas, but I shall only
describe a few of them, as their actions were similar in most instances.
The first one that I had the pleasure of seeing in the jungle came
within a few yards of the cage before it was yet in order to receive.
He was not half grown. He must have been attracted by the noise made in
putting it together. He advanced with caution, and when I discovered
him he was peering through the bushes as if to ascertain the cause of
the sounds. When he saw me, he only tarried a few seconds and hurried
off into the jungle. I did not disturb or shoot at him, because I
desired him to return.
On the third day after I went to live in the cage a family of ten
gorillas was seen to cross an open space along the back of a patch of
plantains near one of the villages. A small native boy was within about
twenty yards of them when they crossed the path in front of him. A few
minutes later I was notified of it, took my rifle, and followed them
into the jungle until I lost the trail. A few hours after this they
were again seen by some natives not far away from my cage, but they
did not come near enough to be seen or heard. The next day there was a
family came within some thirty yards of the cage. The bush was so dense
that I could not see them, but I could distinguish four or five voices.
They seemed to be engaged in a broil of some kind. I suppose it was the
same family that had been seen the day before. The second night after
this time I heard the screams of one in the forest some distance from
me, but I do not know whether it was the king of this family or another.
One day, as I sat alone, a young gorilla, perhaps five years old, came
within six or seven yards of the cage and took a peep. I do not know
whether he was aware of its being there or not until he was so near. He
stood for a time, almost erect, with one hand holding on to a bough;
his lower lip was relaxed, showing the red line mentioned above, and
the end of his tongue could be seen between his parted lips. He did not
evince either fear or anger, but rather appeared to be amazed. I heard
him creeping through the bush a few seconds before I saw him, but as
a rule they move so stealthily as not to be heard. I know of no other
animal of equal weight that makes so little noise in going through the
forest. During the short time he stood gazing at me I sat still as a
statue, and I think he was in doubt as to whether I was alive or not.
He did not turn and run away, but after a brief pause turned off at an
angle and departed. He lost no time, but made no great haste. The only
sound he made was a low grunt, and this he did not repeat.
At another time I heard two making a noise among the plantains near
me. I could only obtain a glimpse of them, but as well as I could see
they were of good size, being almost grown. They were making a low
sound from time to time, something like I have described, but I could
not see them well enough to frame any opinion as to what it meant.
They were certainly not quarrelling, and I am not sure that they were
eating, for I afterwards went and looked to see if I could find where
they had broken any of the stalks. Their trail was visible through the
grass and weeds, but I could find no stalk broken. They were moving
at a very leisurely gait, and must have been within hearing ten or
twelve minutes. They were quite alike in colour, and appeared to be so
in size, although it is well known that the adult male attains a much
greater size than the female.
On one occasion when I was standing outside of the cage some twenty
yards away, Moses was sitting on a dead log near by. I turned to him,
and was just in the act of sitting down by him when he gave an alarm.
I looked around, and discovered a gorilla standing not more than twenty
yards away. He had just that moment discovered us. He gazed for a few
moments and started on, moving obliquely towards the cage. I turned to
retreat. At this instant Moses gave one of his piercing screams, which
frightened the gorilla and he fled. He changed his course almost at
right angles. He was going at a good rate before Moses screamed, but he
mended it at once.
One day I heard three sounds which my boy assured me were gorillas;
they were in different directions from the cage. It was not a scream
nor a howl, but somewhat resembled the human voice calling out with
a sound like "he-oo!" This sound was repeated at intervals, but did
not appear to be in the relation of call and answer, and the animals
making them did not approach each other while doing so. The sounds
were the same except in volume, and one of them appeared to be made by
a much larger animal than the other two. I must say that this sound
rarely occurred within my hearing during all my stay in that part, and
with the exception of this time I never heard them make any loud sound
during the day.
Another interesting specimen that I saw came prowling through the
jungle as if he had lost his way. He found a small opening, or tunnel,
which I had cut through the foliage in order to get a better view.
Turning into that, he came a few steps towards the cage before he
discovered it. Suddenly he stopped, squatted on the ground, but did
not sit flat down. For a few seconds he was motionless, and so was I.
He slowly raised one arm till his hand was above his head, in which
position he sat for a few seconds, when he moved his hand quickly
forward as if to motion at me. He did not drop his hand to the ground,
but held it at an angle from his face for a short time, then slowly
let it down till it reached the ground. During this time he kept his
eyes fixed on me. At length he raised the other arm and seized hold
of a strong bush, by which he slowly drew himself in a half-standing
position. Thus he stood for a few seconds, with one hand resting on
the ground. Suddenly he turned to one side, parted the bushes, and
instantly disappeared. He uttered no sound whatever.
Another visitor that came within about thirty yards along the open path
which led to my retreat, stopped when he discovered me, and stared in a
perplexed manner. He turned away to retreat, but only went a few feet,
turned around, and sat down on the ground. He remained in that attitude
for more than half a minute, when he arose and retired in the direction
from which he came.
The finest view that I ever had of any specimen, and at the same time
the best subject for study, was a large female that came within a
trifle more than three yards of me. There was a dog that belonged to
a village a mile or two away that had become attached to me, and had
found its way through the bush to my cage. He frequently came to visit
me in my retreat, and I was always glad to welcome him. One afternoon,
about three o'clock, he came, and I let him in the cage for a while
to pass the usual greetings. I had a bone of a goat which I had saved
from my last meal, and I threw this out to him in the bush a few feet
away from the cage. He seized the bone, and began to gnaw it where it
lay. His body was in the opening of a rough path cut through the jungle
near the cage, but his head was concealed under a clump of leaves. All
at once I caught a glimpse of some moving object at the edge of the
path on the opposite side of the cage. It was a huge female gorilla,
carrying a young one on her back. When I first saw her she was not more
than thirty feet away. She was creeping along the edge of the bushes
and watching the dog, who was busy with the bone. Her tread was so
stealthy that I could not hear the rustle of a leaf. She advanced a
few feet, crouched under the edge of the bushes, and cautiously peeped
at the dog. She advanced again a little way, halted, crouched, and
peeped again. It was evident that her purpose was to attack, and her
approach was so wary as to leave no doubt of her dexterity in attacking
a foe. Every movement was the embodiment of stealth. Her face wore a
look of anxiety with a touch of ferocity. Her movements were quick
but accurate, and her advance was not delayed by any indecision. The
dog had not discovered her, and the smell of the bone and the noise
he was making with it prevented his either smelling or hearing her.
I could not warn him without alarming her. If he could have seen her
before she made the attack, I should have left him to take his chances
by flight or by battle. I should have been glad of an opportunity to
witness such a combat and to study the actions of the belligerents, but
I could not consent to see a friendly dog taken at such disadvantage.
She was now rapidly covering the distance between them, and the dog
had not yet discovered her. When she reached a point within about four
yards of him I determined to break the silence. I cocked my rifle, and
the click of the trigger caught her attention. I think this was the
first thing that made her aware of my presence. She instantly stopped,
turned her face and body towards the cage, and sat down on the ground
in front of it. She gave me such a look that I almost felt ashamed of
having interfered. She sat for fully one minute staring at me as if
she had been transfixed. There was no trace of anger or of fear, but
the look of surprise was on every feature. I could see her eyes move
from my head to my feet. She scanned me as closely as if it had been
her purpose to purchase me. At length she glanced at the dog, who was
still eating the bone, then turned her head uneasily, as if to search
for some way of escape. She rose, and retraced her steps with moderate
haste; she did not run, but lost no time. She glanced back from time to
time to see that she was not pursued. She uttered no sound of any kind.
From the time this ape came in view until she departed was about four
minutes, and during that time I was afforded an opportunity of studying
her in a way that no one else has ever been able to do. I watched every
movement of her body, face and eyes. I could sit with perfect composure
and study her without the fear of attack. With due respect for the
temerity of men, I do not believe that any sane man could calmly sit
and watch one of these huge beasts approach so near him without feeling
a tremor of fear, unless he was protected as I was. Any man would
either shoot or retreat, and he could not possibly study the subject
with equanimity.
The temptation to shoot her was almost too great to resist, and the
desire to capture her babe made it all the more so; but up to that time
I had refrained from firing my gun anywhere within a radius of half a
mile or so of my cage, and the natives had agreed to the same thing.
My purpose in doing so was to avoid frightening the apes away from the
locality. I had been told by the native hunters before this, that if I
wounded one of them the others would leave the vicinity and not return
perhaps for weeks. They say if you kill one the others do not appear to
notice it so much as if it were wounded, although they seem to be aware
of the fact and for the time flee, but will return again within a short
time.
I could have shot this one with perfect ease and safety. As she
approached, her head and breast were towards me; just before she
discovered me her left side was in plain view, and when she sat down
her breast was perfectly exposed, so that I could have shot her in the
heart, the breast, or the head.
Her baby lay upon her back, with its arms embracing her neck and its
feet caught under her arms. The cunning little imp saw me long before
the mother did, but it gave her no warning of danger. It lay with its
cheek resting on the back of her head. Its black face looked as smooth
and soft as velvet. Its big brown eyes were looking straight at me, but
it betrayed no sign of fear or even of concern. It really had a pleased
expression, and was the nearest approach to a smile I have ever seen on
the face of a gorilla. I believe that this is their method of carrying
the young, and I have elsewhere assigned other reasons for this belief.
In this case it is not a matter of belief, but one of knowledge, and
everything that I have observed conspires to say that this is no
exception to the rule.
During my sojourn of nearly four months in the jungle, where it was
said the greatest number of gorillas could be found of any other place
in the basin of that lake, I only saw a total of twenty-two, besides
one other that I saw at another time in the forest while I was hunting.
I only caught a glimpse of him, and should not even have done that had
not the native guide discovered and pointed him out to me. I believe
that no other white man has ever seen an equal number of these animals
in a wild state, and it is certain that no other has ever seen them
under as favourable conditions for study. I have compared notes with
many white men on that part of the coast, but I have never found any
reliable man who claims to have seen an equal number. I know men there
who have lived in that part for years, who frequently hunt in the
forest for days at a time, and yet never saw a live gorilla. I met one
man on my last voyage who has lived on the edge of the gorilla country
forty-nine years, makes frequent journeys through the bush and along
the watercourses in the interest of trade, and this man told me himself
that in all that time he had never seen a wild gorilla. I would cite
Mr. James A. Deemin as an expert woodsman, a cool, daring hunter, and
I have enjoyed several hunts with him. He has travelled, traded, and
hunted through the gorilla country for more than thirteen years, and
has told me that with one exception he had never seen but one wild
gorilla. This was a young one, and the exception alluded to was that he
one time saw a school of them at a distance. On this occasion he was
in a canoe and under the cover of the bushes along the side of a river
until he came near them unobserved. Another man, whose name I will take
the liberty of giving, is Mr. J. H. Drake, of Liverpool. Mr. Drake has
never been suspected by those who know him of lacking courage in the
hunt or being given to romance, and yet in many years on the coast he
never saw but one school of these apes, and that was the same one that
Mr. Deemin saw when they were travelling together. I could cite many
others to show that it is a rare thing for the most expert woodsman
ever to see one of these creatures, and many of the stories told by
the casual traveller cannot be received with implicit faith. I do not
mean to impeach the veracity of others, but fancy must have something
to do with the case. While we cannot prove the negative by direct
evidence, we must be permitted to doubt whether or not these apes are
so frequently met in the jungle as they are alleged to be. I will give
some reasons why I am a sceptic on this subject.
Almost every yarn told by the novice is quite the same in substance
and much the same in detail as those related by others. It seems that
most of them meet the same old gorilla, still beating his breast and
screaming just as he did thirty years ago. The number of gun-barrels
that he is accused of having chewed up would make an arsenal that would
arm the volunteers. What becomes of all those that are attacked by this
fierce monarch of the jungle? Not one of them ever gets killed, and not
one of them ever kills a gorilla. Does he merely do this as a bluff
and then recede from the attack? Or does he follow it up and seize his
victim, tear him open and drink his blood as he is supposed to do? How
does the victim escape? What becomes of the assailant? Who lives to
tell the tale?
The gorilla has good ears, good eyes, and is a skilful bushman. One
man walking through the jungle will make more noise than half a dozen
gorillas. The gorilla can always see and hear a man before he is seen
or heard by him. He is shy, and will not attack a man unless he is
disturbed by him. He is always on the alert for danger, and rarely
comes into the open parts of the bush except for food. He can conceal
himself with more ease than a man can, and has every advantage in
making his escape. I do not believe that he will ever approach a man if
he can evade him. I quite believe that he will make a strong defence
if surprised or attacked, but I do not believe it possible for any one
to see a great number of gorillas in any length of time unless he goes
to some one place and remains there as I have done. Even then he must
sometimes wait for days without a trace of one. Silence and patience
alone will enable him to see them; but when the gorilla sees him he at
once retires as soon as he discovers the nature of the thing before
him. He does not always flee in haste as many other animals do, but is
more deliberate and cool. He will retreat in good order, and as a rule
always starts in time if possible to escape without being observed. I
trust that I may be pardoned for not being able to believe that every
stranger who visits that country is attacked by a gorilla.
In addition to those I have seen in a wild state, I have seen about ten
in captivity. Two of those were my own. They were good subjects for
study, and I made the best use of them for the time I had them.
I accomplished one thing while in the jungle, for which I feel a just
sense of pride, and that was making a gorilla take a portrait of
himself. This will interest the amateur in the art of snapshots, and I
shall relate it.
I selected a place in the forest where I found some tracks of the
animal along the edge of a dense thicket of _batuna_. Under cover of
the foliage I set up two pairs of stakes which were crossed at the
tops, and to them was lashed a short pole forming something like a
sawbuck. To this was fastened the camera, to which had been attached a
trigger made of bamboo splits. One end of a string was fastened to the
trigger, and the other end carried under a yoke to a distance of eight
feet from the lens. At this point was attached a fresh plantain stalk
and a nice bunch of the red fruit of the _batuna_. Upon this point the
camera was focussed, the trigger was set, and it was left to await the
gorilla. That afternoon I returned to find that something had taken the
bait, broken the string, sprung the trigger and snapped the camera. I
developed the plate, but could find no image of anything except the
leaves in front of it. I repeated the experiment with the same results,
but could not understand how anything could steal the bait and yet not
be shown in the picture. The third time I did this I was gratified
to find the image of a gorilla, and also to discover the cause why
the others had not succeeded. The deep shadows of the forest make it
difficult to take a photograph without giving it a time exposure, and
when the sun is under a cloud or on the wrong side of an object it is
quite impossible. The leaves that were shown in the first two plates
were only those which were most exposed to the light, and all the lower
part of the picture was without detail. In the third trial it could be
seen that the sun was shining at the instant of exposure. A part of the
body of the gorilla was in the light, but most of it was in the shadow
of the leaves above it. The left side of the head and face were quite
distinct, also the left shoulder and arm. The hand and bait could not
have been distinguished except by their context. The right side of the
head, arm, and most of the body were lost. The picture showed that he
had taken the bait with his left hand, and that he was in a crouching
posture at the moment. While the photograph was very poor as a work of
art, it was full of interest as an experiment.
Although it did not result in getting a good picture, I do not regard
the effort as a failure. It shows at least that such a thing is
possible, and by careful efforts often repeated it could be made a
means of obtaining some novel pictures. A little ingenuity would widen
the scope of this device, and make it possible to photograph birds,
elephants, and everything else in the forest. When I return to that
place on a like journey, I shall carry the scheme into better effect.
CHAPTER XVII
OTHER APES
In the various records that constitute the history of these apes are
found many novel and incoherent tales, but all of them appear to rest
upon some basis of truth. In order to arrive at some more definite
knowledge concerning them, we may review the data at our command.
The first record in the annals of the world that alludes to these
man-like apes, is that of Hanno, who made a voyage from Carthage to
the west coast of Africa, nearly 500 years before the Christian era.
He described an ape which was found in the locality about Sierra
Leone. It is singular that the description which he gave of those apes
should coincide so fully with those known of the present day, but to
my mind it is quite certain that the ape of which he gives an account
was neither a gorilla nor chimpanzee, nor is there anything to show
that either of these ever occupied that part of the world, or that any
similar type has done so. It is clear from the evidence that the ape
described by him was not an anthropoid, but was the large, dog-faced
monkey technically called _cynocephalus_. These animals are found all
along the north coast of the Gulf of Guinea, but there is not a trace
of any true ape along it north of Cameroon River, which empties into
the sea about 4° north of the equator. Here begins the first trace of
the chimpanzee. In passing along the windward coast, casual reports are
current to the effect that gorillas and chimpanzees occupy the interior
north of there; but when these reports are sifted down to solid facts,
it always turns out to be a big baboon or monkey upon which the story
rests. Its likeness to man as described by Hanno was doubtless the work
of fancy, and the name _troglodytes_ which he gave to it shows that he
knew but little of its habits, or cared but little for the exactness of
his statements.
The account given by Henry Battel, in 1590, contains a thread of truth
woven into a web of fantasy. He must have heard the stories he relates,
or seen the specimens along the coast north of the Congo, and there are
certain facts which point to this conclusion. The name _pongo_ which
he gave to one of them belongs to the Fiot tongue, which is spoken by
the native tribes around Loango. Those people apply the name to the
gorilla, and is commonly understood to be synonymous with the name
_njina_, used by the tribes north of there, and always applied to the
gorilla. To me, however, it appears to coincide with the name _ntyii_
as used by the Esyira people for another ape which is described in the
chapter devoted to gorillas. It was from Loango that Dr. Falkenstein
secured an ape under that name in 1876. It is singular that Baron
Wurmb, in 1780, makes use of this same name _pongo_ for an orang. I
have not been able to learn where he acquired this name, but it appears
to be a native Fiot name, and the history of their language is fairly
well known for more than 400 years. The other name "Enjocko," given by
Battel to the other ape, is beyond a doubt a corruption of the native
name _ntyigo_ (ntcheego), and this name belongs north of the Congo
from Mayumba to Gaboon. He may have inferred that these apes occupied
Angola, but there is not a vestige of proof that any ape exists in that
part of Africa. Even the native tribes of that part have no indigenous
name for either one of these apes. Other parts of his account are
erroneous, and while he may have believed that those apes "go in bodies
to kill many natives that travel in the wood," and the natives may have
told him such a thing, the apes do not practise such a habit. With all
their sagacity they have no idea of the unity of action. If a band of
them were attacked, they would no doubt act together in their defence,
but it is not to be believed that they ever preconcert any plan of
attack. Neither do these apes ever assault elephants. He is one animal
they hold in mortal dread. I have incidentally mentioned elsewhere
the conduct of my two kulus on board the ship when they saw a young
elephant. Chico, the big ape that has also been mentioned, was often
vicious and stubborn. Whenever he refused to obey his keeper or became
violent, an elephant was brought in sight of his cage. On seeing it he
became as docile as a lamb, and showed every sign of the most intense
fear. Mr. Bailey himself told me of the dread both of his apes had for
an elephant. Battel was also wrong in the mode he described of the
mother carrying its young, and the apes using sticks or clubs.
The ape known as "Mafuka," which was exhibited in Dresden in 1875, was
also brought from the Loango coast, and it is possible that this is the
ape to which the native name _pongo_ really belonged. This specimen in
many respects conforms to the description of the _ntyii_ given, but the
idea suggested by certain writers that "Mafuka" was a cross between
the gorilla and chimpanzee is not, to my mind, a tenable supposition.
It would be difficult to believe that two apes of different species
in a wild state would cross, but to believe that two that belonged to
different genera would do so is even more illogical.
I may state here, however, again that some of the Esyira people advance
such a theory concerning the _ntyii_, but the belief is not general,
and those best skilled in woodcraft regard them as distinct species.
To quote, in pidjin English, the exact version of their relationship as
it was given to me by my interpreter while in that country, may be of
interest to the reader. I may remark, by way of explaining the nature
of pidjin English, that it is a literal translation of the native mode
of thought into English words. The statement was:
"_Ntyii_ be one: _njina_ be one: all two be one, one. _Nytii_ 'e one
mudder: _jnina_ 'e one mudder: all two 'e one, one. _Nytii_ 'e one
fader: _njina_ all same 'e one fader, 'e one. 'E all two one fader." By
which the native means to say that the _nytii_ has one mother and the
_njina_ has one mother, so that the two have two mothers, but both have
one father, therefore they are half-brothers.
The other version given in denial of this statement was as follows:
"_Nytii_ 'e one mudder: _njina_ 'e one mudder. 'E one, one. _Nytii_ 'e
one fader: _njina_ 'e one fader. 'E be one, one. All two 'e one, one.
_Nytii_ 'im mudder, _njina_ 'im mudder. 'E brudder. _Nytii_ 'im fader,
_njina_ 'im fader 'e brudder. All two 'e one, one."
The translation of this elegant speech is, that the _nytii_ has a
mother, and the _njina_ has a mother which are not the same but
sisters. The _nytii_ has a father, and the _njina_ has a father which
are not the same, but are brothers, and therefore the two apes are only
cousins, which in the native esteem is a remote degree of kinship.
The ape described by Lopez certainly belonged to the territory north
of the Congo, which coast he explored, and gave his name to a cape
about forty miles south of the equator, and it still bears the name
Cape Lopez. At that time, however, it is probable that most of the
low country now occupied by these apes was covered with water; that
the lakes of that region were then all embraced in one great estuary,
reaching from Fernan Vaz to Nazareth Bay, and extending eastward to
the Foot hills below Lamberene. There is abundant evidence to show that
such a state has once existed there, but it is not probable that these
apes have ever changed their latitude.
The name "soko" appears to be a local name for the ordinary type of
chimpanzee found throughout the whole range of their domain, and known
in other parts by other names.
In Malimbu the name "kulu" appears to apply to the same species, while
in the south-western part of their habitat that name, coupled with
the verb "kamba," is confined strictly to the other type. Along the
northern borders of the district to which that species belongs, but
where he is very seldom found and little known to the natives, he is
called Mkami tribe, "kanga ntyigo," to distinguish him from the common
variety to which the latter name only is applied.
The etymology of the name _kanga_ as applied to this ape is rather
obscure. In common use it is a verb with the normal meaning to "parch"
or "fry," and hence the secondary meaning to "prepare." Since this
ape is said to be of a higher order of the race, the term is used to
signify that he is "better prepared" than the other. That is to say, he
is prepared to think and talk in a better manner.
Another history of this word appears to be more probable. The ape to
which the name is applied lives between the Mkami country and the
Congo, and the name is possibly a perversion of kongo, and implies
the kind of _ntyigo_ that lives towards the great river of that name.
The etymology of African names is always difficult because there is
no record of them, but many of them can be traced out with great
precision, and some of them are unique.
The name M'Bouvé, as given by Du Chaillu, I have not been able to
identify. In one part of the country I was told that the word meant
the "chief" or head of a family. In another part it was said to mean
something like an advocate or champion, and was only applied to one
ape in a family group. The Rev. A. C. Goode, a zealous missionary who
recently died near Batanga, was stationed for twelve years at Gaboon.
During that time he travelled all through the Ogowe and Gaboon valleys.
He was familiar with the languages of that part, and he explained the
word in about the same way.
Whatever may be said concerning the veracity of Paul Du Chaillu, there
is one thing that must be said to his credit. He gave to the world
more knowledge of these apes than all other men put together had ever
done before, and while he may have given a touch of colour to many
incidents, and related some native yarns, he told a vast amount of
valuable truth, and I can forgive him for anything which he may have
misstated, except one. That is starting that story about gorillas
chewing up gun-barrels. It has been a staple yarn in stock ever since,
and the instant you ask a native any question about the habits of a
gorilla he begins with this.
In view of the fact that I have made careful and methodic efforts to
determine the exact boundary of the habitat and the real habits of
these two apes, I feel at liberty to speak with an air of authority.
I have acquired my knowledge on the subject by going to their own
country and living in their own jungle, and I have thus obtained their
secrets from first hands. With due respect to those who write books
and speak freely upon subjects of which they know but little, I beg
leave to suggest that if the authors had gone into the jungle and
lived among those animals instead of consulting others who know less
than themselves about it, many of them would have written in a very
different strain. I do not mean this as a rebuke to any one, but seeing
the same old stories repeated year after year, and knowing that there
is no truth in them, I feel it incumbent as a duty to challenge them.
I believe that in the future it will be shown that there are two types
of gorilla as distinct from each other as the two chimpanzees now
known. This second variety of gorilla will be found between the third
and fifth parallels south and east of the delta district, but west
of the Congo. I believe it was represented in the ape "Mafuka." My
researches among the apes have been confined chiefly to the two kinds
heretofore described, but I have seen and studied in a superficial
way the orang and the gibbon. I am not prepared as yet to discuss the
habits of those two apes, but as they form a part of the group of
anthropoids we cannot dismiss them without honourable mention.
The orang-outan, as he is called in his own country, is known to
zoology by the first of these terms alone. He is a native of Borneo and
Sumatra, and opinions differ as to whether there are two species or
only one.
The general plan of the skeleton of the orang is very much the same as
in the other apes. The chief points of difference are that it has one
bone more in the wrist and one joint less in the spinal column than is
found in man. He has thirteen pairs of ribs, which appear to be more
constant in their number than in man. His arms are longer and his legs
shorter in proportion to his body than the other two apes. The type of
the skull is peculiar, and combines to a certain extent more human-like
form in one part with a more beast-like form in another. The usual
height of an adult male is about fifty-one inches.
I have never had an opportunity of studying this ape in a wild state,
and have only had access to four of them in captivity, all of which
were young and most of them inferior specimens. He is the most obtuse
or stupid of the four great apes. And were it not for his skeleton
alone he would be assigned a place below the gibbon, for in point of
speech and mental calibre he is far inferior. The best authorities
perhaps upon the habits of this ape in a wild state are Messrs. W. T.
Horniday and R. A. Wallace.
The first and last in order of the anthropoid apes is the gibbon; he
is much smaller in size, greater in variety, and more active than
any other of the group. His habitat is in the south-east of Asia; its
outline is vaguely defined, but it includes the Malayan Peninsula and
many of the contiguous islands east and south of it.
The skeleton of the gibbon is the most delicate and graceful in build
of all the apes, and in this respect is as far superior to man as
man is to the gorilla, except for the long arms and digits. He is
the only one of the four that can walk in an erect position, but in
doing this the gibbon is awkward, and often uses his arms to balance
himself, sometimes by touching his hands to the ground, or at other
times raising them above his head or extending them on either side.
The length of them is such that he can touch the fingers to the ground
while the body is nearly if not quite erect. In the spinal column he
has two and sometimes three sections more than man. His digits are very
much longer, but his legs are nearly the same length in proportion to
his body as those of man. He has fourteen pairs of ribs.
The gibbon is the most active, if not the most intelligent, of all
apes. He is more arboreal in habit than any other. Many wonderful
stories are told of his agility in climbing and leaping from limb to
limb. One authentic report credits one of these apes with leaping
a distance of forty-two feet from the limb of one tree to that of
another. Perhaps a better term is to call it swinging rather than
leaping, as these flights are performed by the arms. Another account
is, that one swinging by one hand propelled himself a horizontal
distance of eighteen feet through the air, seizing a bird in flight,
and alighting safely upon another limb with his prey in hand.
There are several of this ape known, the largest of which is about
three feet high, but the usual height is not more than thirty inches.
The voice of one species is remarkable for its strength, scope and
quality above all other apes. Most of the members of this genus are
endowed with better vocal qualities than other animals. This ends
the list of the man-like apes, and next in order after them come the
monkeys, but we will deal with that subject more at length at some
future time.
The descent, as we have elsewhere observed, from the highest ape to the
lowest monkey presents one unbroken scale of imbricating planes; and we
have seen in what degree man is related to the higher ape. From whence
we may discern in what degree his physical nature is the same as that
of all the order to which he belongs. No matter in what respect he may
differ in his mental and moral nature, his likeness to them should at
least restrain his pride, evoke his sympathy, and share the bounty of
his benevolence. Let man realise to its full extent that he is one in
nature with the rest, and they will receive the benign influence of his
dignity without impairing it, while he will elevate himself by having
given it.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE TREATMENT OF APES IN CAPTIVITY
In conclusion, I deem it in order to offer a few remarks with regard
to the causes of death among these apes, and to the proper treatment
of the animals in captivity. We know so little and assume so much
concerning them that we often violate the very laws under which they
live.
We have already noticed the fact that the gorilla is confined by
nature to a low, humid region, reeking with miasma and the effluvia of
decaying vegetation. The atmosphere in which he thrives is one in which
human life can hardly exist. We know in part why man cannot live in
such an atmosphere and under such conditions, but we cannot say with
certainty why the ape does do so. It would seem that the very element
that is fatal to the life of man gives strength and vitality to the
gorilla.
We know that all forms of animal life are not affected in the same way
by the same things, and while it may be said in round numbers that
whatever is good for man is good for apes also, it is not a fact.
The human race is the most widely distributed of any genus of mammals
and, as a race, can undergo the greatest extremes of change in climate,
food and other conditions of any other animal. His migratory habits,
both inherent and acquired, have fitted him for a life of vicissitudes,
and such a life inures him as an individual to all extremes. On the
other hand, the gorilla, as a genus, is confined to a small habitat,
which is uniform in climate, products and topography; and having been
so long restricted to these conditions he is unfitted for like changes,
and when such are forced upon him the result must always be to his
injury.
In certain parts of the American tropics there is found a rich, grey
moss growing in great profusion in certain localities and on certain
kinds of trees. It is not confined to any certain level, but thrives
best on the lowest elevations. Under favourable conditions it will
grow at altitudes far above the surrounding swamps. The character and
quantity, however, are measured by the altitude at which it grows. It
is an aerial plant, and may be detached from the boughs of one tree
and transplanted upon those of another. It may be taken with safety
for a great distance so long as an atmosphere is supplied to it that
is suited to its nature; but when removed from its normal conditions
and placed in a purer air it begins to languish and soon dies. If it be
returned in time, however, to its former place or one of like character
it will revive and continue to grow.
What element this plant extracts from the impure air is a matter of
doubt; but it cannot be carbonic acid gas which is the chief food of
plants, nor it cannot be any form of nitrogen; and it is well known
that the plant cannot long survive in a pure atmosphere. Whatever the
ingredient extracted may be, it is certain that it is one that is
deadly to human life, and one which other plants refuse. Moisture and
heat alone cannot account for it.
We have another striking instance in the eucalyptus, which lives
upon the poison of the air around it. There are many other cases in
vegetable life, and while the animal is a higher organism than the
plant, there are certain laws of life that obtain in both kingdoms
which are the same in principle.
Between the case of the gorilla and that of the plant there is some
analogy. It may not be the same element that sustains them both, but it
is possible that the very microbes which germinate disease and prove
fatal to man sustain the life of the ape in the prime of health. The
poison which destroys life in man preserves it in the ape.
The chimpanzee is distributed over a much greater range, and is capable
of undergoing a much greater degree of change in food and temperature.
The history of these apes in captivity shows that the chimpanzee lives
much longer in that state and requires much less care. From my own
observation I assert that all of these apes can undergo a greater range
of temperature than they can of humidity. This appears to be one of
the essential things to the life of a gorilla, and one fatal mistake
made in treating him is furnishing him with a dry, warm atmosphere,
and depriving him of the poison contained in the malarious air in
which he spends his entire life. Both of these apes need humidity. The
chimpanzee will live longer than a gorilla in a dry air, but neither of
them can long survive it, and it would appear that a salt atmosphere is
best for the gorilla.
I believe that one of these apes could be kept in good condition for
any length of time if he were supplied with a normal humidity in an
atmosphere laden with miasma and allowed to vary in temperature. A
constant degree of heat is not good for any animal, there is nowhere in
all the earth that nature sustains a uniform degree of it. We need not
go to either extreme, but a change is requisite to bring into play all
the organs of the body.
The theory of their treatment which I would advance is to build them
a house entirely apart from that of any other animal. It should be
18 or 20 feet wide by 35 or 40 long, and at least 15 feet high. It
should have no floor except earth, and that should be of sandy loam or
vegetable mould. In one end of this building there should be a pool of
water 12 or 15 feet in diameter, and embedded in the mould under the
water should be a steam coil to regulate the temperature as might be
desired. In this pool should be grown a dense crop of water plants such
as are found in the marshes of the country in which the gorilla lives.
This pool should not be cleaned out or the water changed, but the
plants should be allowed to grow and decay in a natural way. Neither
the pool nor the house should be kept at a uniform heat, but allowed to
vary from 60 to 90 degrees.
In addition to the things mentioned, the place should be provided with
the means of giving it a spray of tepid water, which should be turned
on once or twice a day, and allowed to continue for at least an hour at
a time. The water for this purpose should be taken from the pool, but
should never be warmer than the usual temperature of tropical rain. The
animal should not be required to take a bath in this way, but should be
left to his own choice about it.
The house should be separated by a thin partition that could be removed
at will, and the other end of the building from the pool should be
occupied by a strong tree, either dead or alive, to afford the inmates
proper exercise. The rule that visitors or strangers should not annoy
or tease them should be enforced without respect to person, time, or
rank. No visitor should be allowed on any terms to give them any kind
of food. The reasons for these precautions are obvious to any one
familiar with the keeping of animals, but in the case of a gorilla
their observance cannot be waived with impunity.
The south side of the house should be of glass, and at least half
of the top should be of the same. These parts should be provided
with heavy canvas curtains, to be drawn over them so as to adjust or
regulate the sunlight. In summer-time the building should be kept
quite open so as to admit air and rain. The ape does not need to
be pampered: on the contrary, he should be permitted to rough it.
Half of the gorillas that have ever been in captivity have died from
over-nursing. By nature they are strong and robust if the proper
conditions are supplied, but when these are changed he becomes a frail
and tender creature. They should not be restricted to a vegetable
diet nor limited to a few articles of food of any kind, but should
be allowed to select such things as they prefer to eat. I have grave
doubts as to the wisdom of limiting the quantity. One mistake is often
committed in the treatment of animals, and that is to continue the
same diet at all times and limit that to one or two items. It may be
observed that the higher the form of organism is the more diverse the
taste becomes, and while very hardy animals or those of low forms may
be restricted to one staple kind of food, the higher forms demand a
change.
One thing above all others that I would inhibit is the use of straw of
any kind in their cage for beds or any other purpose. If it be desired
to furnish them with such a comfort, nothing should ever be used but
dead leaves if they can be supplied. In their absence a canvas hammock
or wire matting should be used. There are certain kinds of dust given
off by the dry straw of all cereal plants. This is deleterious to the
health of man, but vastly more so to these apes. It is taken into the
lungs, and through them act upon other parts of the body by suppressing
the circulation and respiration. No matter how clean the straw may be,
the effect will be the same in the end. Hay is better than straw, but
even this should not be used.
Another thing which is necessary is to entertain or amuse them in some
way, otherwise they become despondent and gloomy. It is believed by
those who are familiar with these apes that loneliness or solitude is a
fruitful cause of death. This is especially so with the gorilla. I have
a photograph of one that was kept by a trader on the coast of Africa
for nearly three years. She was devoted to him, and was never content
when not in his company. His business required him to make a journey
of a few days to the interior. He left the gorilla at his place on the
coast where she had lived up to this time. The day after he departed
she became morose and fretful, and within a few days died without any
apparent cause except pining. This was observed by natives and by white
traders, and her death has always been ascribed to the cause assigned.
She was well known to all the traders on that part of the coast, and
has been regarded as one of the best specimens known. She is the only
one that I have ever known to become devoted to a human being.
Another important fact that is little known but very singular is, that
tobacco smoke is absolutely fatal to a gorilla. Every native hunter
that I met in Africa testifies that this simple thing will kill any
gorilla in the forest if he is subjected to the fumes for a short time.
I have reason to believe that it is true. It may not prove fatal in
every instance, but it will in many. The chimpanzee is not so much
affected by it, although he dislikes it, but the gorilla detests it and
shows at all times his strong aversion to it. I have no doubt that this
is one of the reasons that these apes always die on board the ships by
which they are brought from Africa.
Both of these apes are possessed, in a degree, of savage and resentful
instincts. But these are much stronger in the gorilla than in the
chimpanzee. He therefore requires firm and consistent treatment.
This can be used without being severe or cruel, but the intellect
of the gorilla must not be underrated. He studies the motives and
intentions of man with a keen perception, and is seldom mistaken in
his interpretation of them. He often manifests a violent dislike for
certain persons, and when such is discovered to be the case the object
of his dislike should not be permitted in his presence, for the result
is to enrage the ape and excite his nervous nature. When they become
sullen or obstinate they should not be coaxed or indulged, nor yet
used with harshness. They should either be left alone for the time or
diverted by a change of treatment.
At this point I submit the foregoing to the world as the sum of my
labours in this special field of research up to this time. I regret
that I have been compelled to deny much that has been said, but I
make no apology for having done so. In this work I have sought to
place these apes before the reader as I have seen them in their native
forest. I have not clothed them in fine raiment or invested them in
glamour, but I trust that this contribution may be found worthy of the
respect of all men who love Nature and respect fidelity.
I have the vanity to believe that the methods of study which I have
employed will be made the means of farther research by more able
students than the writer.
_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
_London and Edinburgh_
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant
preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected.
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.
Page 227: "=Y=" indicates a symbol.
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