i THE GORILLA. 69 



among the mountains in which that river rises, and far 

 north of that. 



" In the south, this species extends to the Congo River, 

 as I am told by native traders who have visited the coast 

 between the Gaboon and that river. Beyond that, I am 

 not informed. This animal is only found at a distance 

 from the coast in most cases, and, according to my best in- 

 formation, approaches it nowhere so nearly as on the 

 south side of this river, where they have been found 

 within ten miles of the sea. This, however, is only of late 

 occurrence. I am informed by some of the oldest Mpong- 

 we men that formerly he was only found on the sources 

 of the river, but that at present he may be found within 

 half-a-day's walk of its mouth. Formerly he inhabited 

 the mountainous ridge where Bushmen alone inhabited, 

 but now he boldly approaches the Mpongwe plantations. 

 This is doubtless the reason of the scarcity of informa- 

 tion in years past, as the opportunities for receiving a 

 knowledge of the animal have not been wanting; traders 

 having for one hundred years frequented this river, and 

 specimens, such as have been brought here within a year, 

 could not have been exhibited without having attracted 

 the attention of the most stupid." 



One specimen Mr. Ford examined weighed 

 170 lbs., Avithout the thoracic, or pelvic, viscera, 

 and measured fonr feet f onr inches round the chest. 

 This writer describes so minutely and graphically 

 the onslaught of the Gorilla — though he does not 

 for a moment pretend to have witnessed the scene 

 — that I am tempted to give this part of his paper 

 in full, for comparison with other narratives: 



" He always rises to his feet when making an attack, 

 though he approaches his antagonist in a stooping pos- 

 ture. 



