1852.] 33 



The Ngena is represented as the most terrible monster of his native forests. 

 His appearance is hideous even when dead. Among the natives he is the subject 

 of many allegories, in which he acts some distinguished part, perhaps that of a 

 king or a conqueror perhaps a defender or a destroyer. In the forests he seems 

 to be the implacable enemy of man. 



Though he never lies in wait, yet when he hears, sees or scents a man, he im- 

 mediately utters his characteristic cry, prepares for an attack, and always acts on 

 the offensive. The cry that he utters resembles a grunt more than a growl, and 

 is similar to the cry of the Chimpanzee when irritated, but vastly louder. It is 

 said to be audible at a great distance. His preparation consists in attending the 

 females and young ones, by which he is usually accompanied, to a little distance. 

 He, however, soon returns with his crest erect and projecting forward, his nos- 

 trils dilated and his under lip thrown down, at the same time uttering his 

 characteristic yell, designing, it would seem, to terrify his antagonist; instantly, 

 unless he is disabled by a well directed shot, he makes an onset, and striking his 

 antagonist with the palm of his hands, or seizing him with a grasp from which 

 there is no escape, he dashes him upon the ground and lacerates him with 

 his tusks. 



He is said to seize a musket and instantly crush the barrel between his teeth. 



Some hunters are said to have permitted him to take hold of the musket and 

 carry it to his mouth, firing as it passes between his teeth. This will, however, 

 appear to lack probability, though it is stoutly maintained by the natives. 



He is said to be always at war with the leopard, which he destroys if he suc- 

 ceeds in seizing him. The leopard, however, by his superior agility, often wears 

 him out. He is said to spring upon the back of the Ngena and lacerate his neck 

 with his teeth, escaping before he can be seized. This animal's savage nature 

 is very well shown by the implacable disposition of a young one that was brought 

 here. It was taken very young and kept four months, and many means were 

 used to tame it, but it was incorrigible, so that it bit me an hour before it died. 



The various stories of his building houses in imitation of the natives his 

 covering himself with bushes, which he hurls upon his antagonist in his attacks ; 

 vanquishing the elephant with clubs, or even using clubs at any time, and nu- 

 merous other accounts given to credulous whites, are considered ridiculous by 

 the best informed natives. Yet every Mpongue man has a fund of such stories 

 which he vends to children and every one else who will listen to them with 

 credulity. 



From my most careful inquiries I can find no one who believes that these 

 creatures are of the same original stock as black men, as some have reported. 

 By most it is considered an insult to suppose it. 



Hi flesh is considered delicate eating by the tribes where he is taken, though 

 the JJpongues consider it quite ' vulgar fare.' The slaves here, however, carried 

 away the flesh as soon as it was taken from the bones of my specimen." 



ii 



Dr. Ruschenberger read a portion of his " Notice of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia/' the remainder of which was deferred 

 to the next meeting. 



February V^ih, 

 Vice-President Wetherill in the Chair. 



Dr. Ruschenberger concluded the reading of his "Notice of the 

 Academy." 



Whereupon the following Resolutions, offered by William S. Vaux, 

 Esq., were unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That the Members of the Academy have listened with the 

 deepest interest and satisfaction to the " Notice " just read. 



5 



