22 THE CHIMPANSEE. 
are not accustomed to habitual residence among the branches of trees. Although these 
apes do not avail themselves of the protection which would be afforded by a loftier 
habitation, yet they are individually so strong, and collectively so formidable, that they 
dwell in security, unharmed even by the lon, leopard, or other members of the cat tribes, 
which are so dreaded by the monkey tribes generally. Even the elephant yields to these 
active and ferocious animals, and leaves them undisturbed. Yet a Chimpansee would not 
dare to meet a panther in single combat, and depends for safety upon the assistance that 
would be afforded by its companions. This is shown by a curious and rather absurd 
incident that occurred on board a ship, where a young and docile Chimpansee suddenly 
came in sight of a caged panther, which had taken voyage in the same vessel. 
The unexpected sight of the panther entirely overcame his feelings, and with a fearful 
yell he dashed along the deck, knocking over sundry of the crew in his passage. He 
then dived into the folds of a sail which was lying on deck, covered himself up with the 
sail-cloth, and was in such an agony of terror, that he could not be induced to come out 
of his retreat for a long time. 
His fright was not groundless, for the panther was as much excited as the ape, only 
with eager ‘desire, and not with fear, It paced its cage for hours afterwards, and continued 
to watch restlessly, much as a cat may be seen to watch the crevice through which a 
mouse has made good its escape. 
There are also stré ange reports, which are still credited, that the Chimpansees carry off 
negresses, and detaim them in the woods for years, sometimes until they are released by 
death from their terrible captivity. 
The food of these creatures appears to be almost entirely of a vegetable nature, and they 
are very unprofitable neighbours to anyone who has the misfortune to raise crops of rice, 
or to plant bananas, plantains, or papaus, within an easy journey of a Chimpansee settle- 
ment. As is the case with many of the monkey tribes, the animal will eat food of a 
mixed character, when it is living in a domesticated state. 
Many specimens have been brought to Europe, and some to England; but this msular 
climate seems to have a more deleterious effect on the constitution of this ape than even 
on that of the other Quadrumana. In this country, our worst, most insidious, and most 
irresistible malady fastens upon the apes with relentless hand. The lungs of these creatures 
are accustomed to the burning suns which heat and rarefy the air of the tropical climates, 
and are peculiarly sensitive to cold and damp. Few members of this family live to any 
leneth of years, after they have once crossed the Channel. They are, after a while, 
seized with a short hacking cough, the sure sign that consumption has begun that work 
which it is so sure to accomplish. 
It may be, that the atmosphere of so small an island as England, is loaded with 
marine and saline exhalations which prove too irritative to the lungs of the ape. Be this 
as it may, the free use of food which supplies a large amount of carbon, is the best 
preventive of this lethal ailment. Cod liver oil will be found very efficacious ; and I 
know of one successful cure, where the animal was treated to a glass of wine daily. It 
seems to supply, internally, the heat principle, which is poured in fiery vehemence from 
the vertical sun of the tropics, and which our temperate zones can only afford in 
moderate proportions. 
A monkey, when aftlicted with this disease, is a truly pitiful sight. The poor animal 
sits in such a woeful attitude, coughing at intervals, and putting its hands to its chest in a 
way terribly human. And it looks so mournfully and reproachfully out of its dark brown 
eyes, Just as if it were rebuking the spectator for his part in bringing it from its native 
land, where it was happy among its friends, to die a solitary death of cold and consump- 
tion, behind the bars of its prison. 
The climate of France seems to be better suited to these animals than that of 
England. 
In the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, there was a remarkably fine specimen of the 
Chimpansee. Black, sleek, and glossy, he was facdle princeps in the establishment, and 
none dared to dispute his authority. 
He was active enough, and displayed very great strength, and some agility, as he 
