THE MAN-LIKE APES. 15 



out, at least in its primitive form and signification. In- 

 deed, there is evidence that not only in BattelFs time, 

 but up to a very recent date, it was used in a totally 

 different sense from that in which he employs it. 



For example, the second chapter of Purchas' work, 

 which I have just quoted, contains "A Description and 

 Historicall Declaration of the Golden Kingdom of Guinea, 

 &c. &c. Translated from the Dutch, and compared also 

 with the Latin," wherein it is stated (p. 986) that — 



" The River Gaboon lyeth about fifteen miles north- 

 ward from Rio de Angra, and eight miles northward 

 from Cape de Lope Gonsalvez (Cape Lopez), and is 

 right under the Equinoctial line, about fifteene miles 

 from St. Thomas, and is a great land, well and easily to 

 be knowne. At the mouth of the river there lieth a 

 sand, three or foure fathoms deepe, whereon it beateth 

 mightily with the streame which runneth out of the 

 river into the sea. This river, in the mouth thereof, is 

 at least foure miles broad ; but when you are about the 

 Hand called Pmigo, it is not above two miles broad. . 

 . . On both sides the river there standeth many trees. 



The Hand called Pongo^ which hath a 



monstrous high hill." 



The French naval officers, whose letters are appended 

 to the late M. Isidore Geoff. Saint Hilaire's excellent 

 essay on the Gorilla,* note in similar terms the width of 

 the Gaboon, the trees that line its banks down to the 

 water's edge, and the strong current that sets out of it. 

 They describe two islands in its estuary ; — one low, called 

 Perroquet ; the other high, presenting three conical hills, 

 called Coniquet ; and one of them, M. Franquet, expressly 

 states that, formerly, the Chief of Coniquet was called 



* Archives du Museum, Tome X. 



