THE GORILLA. Ilys 
of their kings; for in the lower stages of man’s progress he does honour to physical force 
alone, and values his ruler in proportion to his power, brutality, and heartlessness. It 
is the best boast of a savage chief, no matter of what nation and of what country, that 
he has “no heart.” The savage crouches in terror before the imaged incarnation of 
the evil principle, and adores, for he can only worship the object of his fears. His 
belief is truly that of the demons—“he believes and trembles.” Reverence for the inborn 
royalty of the Gorilla does not save the animal from the fate of being eaten whenever 
it falls a victim to the weapons of its negro assailants. Perhaps the very feeling 
of reverence may incite to the act, in a manner analogous to the filial piety of the 
Scythians, which was best shown by killing their aged parents and dutifully eating 
them. 
But putting aside the terrors of diabolism, which are engrained in the native African 
mind, the task of capturing a living and full-grown Gorilla is well calculated to appal 
the heart of any man. The strength, the activity, and the cunning and sanguinary 
malevolence of the animal are so great, that the uncivilized Africans may well be 
excused for their dread of its powers. 
Yet it does not follow that although the Africans have failed, Europeans should 
not succeed. The native Africans have not dared to attempt the capture of the 
elephant, although Europeans have succeeded in that endeavour, and have subdued 
the terrible foe, converting it into a docile servant, and even making it an attached and 
intelligent friend. 
Once or twice, the young Gorillas have been captured, in spite of the furious resistance 
which is made by their male friends ; but from some reason they have always died in a 
very short time. 
Cunning as is the Gorilla, and ingenious in some things to a striking degree, its 
intelligence is but limited, and the animal exhibits such unexpected instances of 
fatuity, that it well shows the distinction between cunning and wisdom, and proves 
itself to be but an animal, and nothing more. 
If it finds the remnant of a fire which has been relinquished by the persons who 
kindled it, the Gorilla is greatly charmed with the novel sensation produced by artificial 
warmth, and sits by the bright wonder with much satisfaction. As the fire fails, and the 
glowing brands sink into white ashes, the animal draws closer to the expiring embers, 
and does not leave them until all heat has left the spot. But it never thinks of keeping 
up the fire by placing fresh fuel upon it, and does not even learn to imitate that action, 
which it may often have seen performed by the hunters who kindled the fire, and 
kept it well supplied with fuel during the night. It is most providential that the beast is 
devoid of this faculty, for, with the usual perseverance of the monkey race in such cases, 
it would probably continue to heap fuel until the forest itself was ablaze. 
It is said also, that when the Gorilla makes an incursion into a sugar plantation, it 
has sufficient sense to bite off a number of the canes, and to twist them into a bundle for 
better conveyance. But it frequently includes several of the growing canes in its 
faggot, and then feels woefully discomfited because it cannot carry away the parcel which 
had cost so much trouble in making. 
The natives of Africa have an idea that these, and other large apes, are really men ; 
but that they pretend to be stupid and dumb, in order to escape impressment as slaves. 
Work, indeed, seems to be the swmmum malum in the African mind, and a true African 
never works if he can help it. As to the necessary household labours, and the task 
of agriculture, he will not raise a finger, but makes his wives work, he having previously 
purchased them for that purpose. In truth, in a land where the artificial wants are 
so few—unless the corruptions of pseudo-civilization have made their entrance—and 
where unassisted nature is so bountiful, there is small need of work. The daily life of a 
“black fellow” has been very graphically described in a few words. He gets a large 
melon ; cuts it in two and scoops out the inside; one half he puts on his head, he sits 
in the other half, and eats the middle. 
It is rather singular that this legendary connexion of apes and indolence should 
prevail on the continents of Africa and Asia. 
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