1859.] on the Gorilla, 29 



probability and were in accordance with the ascertained structures and 

 powers of the animal, and would only add the averment and belief of 

 the Gaboon negroes that when a gorilla dies, his fellows cover the 

 corpse with a heap of leaves and loose earth collected and scraped up 

 for the purpose. 



A most singular phenomenon in natural history, if one reflects on 

 the relations of things, is this gorilla ! Limited as it is in its numbers 

 and geographical range, one discerns that the very peculiar conditions 

 of its existence — abundance of wild fruit — needs must be restricted in 

 space ; but, concurring in a certain part of Africa, there lives the 

 creature to enjoy them. 



The like conditions exist in Borneo and Sumatra, and there also a 

 correlative human-like ape, of similar stature, tooth-armour, and force, 

 exists at their expense. Neither ourangs nor gorillas, however, minister 

 to man*s use directly or indirectly. Were they to become extinct, 

 no sign of the change or break in the links of life would remain. 

 What may be their real significance ? 



Reverting finally to the ancient notices which might relate to the 

 great anthropoid ape of Africa, Prof. Owen referred to his first Memoir, 

 of February, 1848, in which was quoted {Trans, Zonl, Soc, vol. iii. 

 p. 418), Dr. Falconer's Translation of the Voyage oj H anno, (Juoudmu^ 

 1797,) with his Dissertation vindicating the authenticity of the "Peri- 

 plus." Professor Owen had lately been favoured by the venerable 

 Bishop Maltby, the first amongst our Greek scholars, with the follow- 

 ing translation of the passage supposed to allude to the species in 

 question : — " On the third day, having sailed from thence, passing tlie 

 streams of fire, we came to a bay called the Horn of the South. 

 In the recess there was an island like the first, having a lake, and in 

 this there was another island full of wild men. But much the greater 

 part of them were women, with hairy bodies, whom the interpreters 

 called ' gorillas.' But, pursuing them, we were not able to take the 

 men ; they all escaped, being able to climb the precipices, and 

 defended themselves with pieces of rock. But three women (females), 

 who bit and scratched those who led them, were not willing to follow. 

 However, having killed them, we flayed them, and conveyed the skins 

 to Carthage. For we did not sail any further, as provisions began to 

 fail." This encounter indicates, therefore, the southernmost point on 

 the west coast of Africa reached by the Carthaginian navigator. 



To the inquiry by Bishop Maltby, how far the newly-discovered 

 great ape of Africa bore upon the question of the authenticity of the 

 Periplus, Prof. Owen had replied : — " The size and form of the great 

 ape, now called ' gorilla,' would suggest to Planno and his crew no 

 other idea of its nature than that of a kind of human being ; but the 

 climbing faculty, the hairy body, and the skinning of the dead speci- 

 mens, strongly suggest that they were large anthropoid apes. The fact 

 that such apes, having the closest observed resemblance to the negro, 

 being of human stature and with hairy bodies, do still exist on the west 

 coast of Africa, renders it highly probable that such were the creatures 

 which Hanno saw, captured, and called ' Gorullai." 



