24 THE CHIMPANSEE. 
gigantic strength, and on one occasionwas intercepted in the act of carrying a soldier 
into the tree to which he was chained. This ape might, however, have been a specimen 
of the gorilla. 
One great and almost radical objection to the weapon-using powers of the Chimpansee, 
may be found in the difficulty which these animals experience in standing erect. In 
order to use a weapon effectively, the hands and arms must be at liberty, and the feet 
planted firmly on the ground. A defect in either of these conditions, is fatal to the right 
handling of the weapon. Now, as the Chimpansee has much difficulty in preserving even 
a semi-erect position, and is forced to aid itself by placing the backs of its hands on the 
ground, it will be at once seen that a club would not give very much assistance to the 
creature. It might certainly launch stones with force and effect; but a weapon that 
requires the full and independent use of both sets of limbs, would be of small benefit. 
Besides, the creature is already so terribly armed by nature with formidable fangs, 
and limbs of Herculean strength, that it needs no artificial means of offence, and would 
probably be rather embarrassed by them than otherwise. 
Still, it is not improbable that these inquisitive animals have seen their human neigh- 
bours armed with sticks, and in that irresistible spirit of imitation to which monkey 
nature seems to be a victim, have armed themselves in similar manner, though with cer- 
tain detrimental results. Should they really have recourse to these artificial and useless 
weapons, when brought into collision with human foes, it may be a providential means of 
depriving them of those terrible natural weapons, which would be truly formidable, and 
so causing them to be the more easily overcome by man. Judging from the familiar 
instances of their imitative nature, we may safely allow that the Chimpansees do carry 
sticks, although we may infer that such weapons would be worse than useless to their 
bearers. 
In common with the orang-outan, and several other members of the same family, the 
Chimpansee is possessed of extremely mobile lips. In the lips, indeed, the whole expres- 
sion of the face seems to be concentrated ; and by the lips, the animal expresses the 
various emotions of fear, astonishment, hatred, rage, or pleasure, that agitate the ape’s 
brain. Those lips can be protruded until they assume an almost snout-like aspect ; they 
can be moulded into the strangest forms ; they can be withdrawn, and almost obliterated 
from the countenance, when the creature extends its mouth into the grin of anger, exhibit- 
ing its sharp teeth, and uttering its furious cries. There are in the face of the ape none 
of those delicate lines that render the human countenance an index of the mind within ; 
and, therefore, the animal makes the most of the limited means which it possesses. 
Articulate voice it has none, although it can be taught to comprehend the commands of 
its instructor; but it is a proficient in natural language of action, and by gesture can 
make itself understood without difficulty. 
Though the language of the ape be not articulate, according to our ideas, yet in their 
wild state the Chimpansees can talk well enough for their own purposes. One proof of 
this, is the acknowledged fact that they can confer with one another sufficiently to act in 
unison, at the same time and place, and with a given object. 
Strong and daring as they are, they do not appear to seek a contest with human 
beings, but do their best to keep quietly out of the way. Like most animals that herd 
together, even in limited numbers, the Chimpansees have ever a watchful sentinel posted 
on the look-out, whose duty it is to guard against the insidious approach of foes, and to 
give warning if he sees, hears, or smells, anything of a suspicious character. 
Should the sentinel ape perceive a sign of danger, he sets up a loud ery, which has 
been likened to the anguished scream of a man in sore distress. The other apes know 
well enough the meaning of that cry, and signify their comprehension by answering cries. 
If the danger continues to threaten, then the ape-conversation becomes loud, shrill, and 
hoarse, and the air is filled with the various notes of the simian language, perfectly 
understood by themselves, although to human ears it consists of nothing but discordant 
yells and barks. 
On reference to the engraving on p. 20, it will be seen that the arms of this animal, of 
the gorilla, and the orang-outan, are of considerably greater length than might be 
