GOLD COAST 201 
I put in the back pocket of my trousers, then fastened the button. 
This allowed both arms free, and as I climbed up and up the 
tree the string gave out behind me so that when I reached the 
upper branches all I had to do was to haul up the trap. I could 
fill a book with my failures, but this was a success. The following 
morning I was delighted to find the trap off and a Demidoff’s 
Galago sitting quietly inside. Next night his mate obliged also by 
going into the trap. 
Another nocturnal lemuroid animal I captured was a Bosman’s 
Potto. Although related to the galagos this animal is as sluggish 
as the galagos are active. It seems that nature has evolved two 
Porro—showing hand and foot 
means of survival—speed and slowness. Between these extremes 
the chances of survival are small. It is a strange fact that all slow- 
moving animals such as the potto, the sloth, and the chameleon 
are feared by the very creatures that might ordinarily bring about 
their extinction; this applies particularly to man. An African or 
a Madagascar native will almost pass out with fright if a European 
playfully tries to put a chameleon on his person, although the 
creature is quite harmless. 
The slow-moving potto, according to the West African native, 
is also a demon and can perform terrifying feats of strength with 
its arms although it is only as big as a guinea-pig. 
The legend goes that if this creature once gets hold of anyone the 
only means of escape is by chopping off its arms. This deep-rooted 
belief is not confined to the Gold Coast; it is prevalent among 
the natives of the Congo and the Cameroons. In the latter territory 
the natives substantiate their story by saying that the withered 
