46 SEARCH FOR THE GORILLA AND THE IPL Chap. IIL 



now be seen mounted in the collection of the British 

 Museum.* 



My first journey to the gorilla district having been 

 unsuccessful in its main object, namely, the capture 

 of a gorilla (although I obtained several skins and 

 skeletons), I resolved to pay it a second visit. The 

 1 6th of June saw me again on my way thither. 



On the 17th I diverged from my route to visit 

 my friend Mburu Shara, a negro chief, whose vil- 

 lage was situated on the right or eastern bank of 

 the Fernand Yaz, just opposite to the landing-place 

 of Aniambie. Mburu Shara was a younger man 

 than African chiefs usually are, but he was one of 

 the finest fellows in the country, and well-disposed 

 towards the white man. I spent three most delightful 

 days at his place, which I had never before visited. 

 Soon after I landed, the villagers came forth, laid 

 mats at my feet, and piled up their presents of 

 plantains; a fat goat was given to me, and my 



* The specimen of Plwlidotus Africanus on which the describer of the 

 species founds his measurements, and the skull of which he figured, I have 

 ascertained, by my own examination in the British Museum, is not the 

 one said to be received from the Niger, but the specimen which I sent. 

 The Niger specimen is very much smaller. I mention this, because 

 Dr. Gray, doubtless through inadvertency, has omitted to mention my 

 name at all in connection with the species. This omission is important 

 only from the circumstance that the locality of the animal, " Fernand 

 Vaz," is also left out; the localities and ranges of species being always 

 considered, and very rightly, important facts in zoological science. I 

 presume there is a possibility of a mistake in the locality of the Niger 

 specimen ; however, I may as well mention that I know that a third speci- 

 men of the ipi was taken by the natives whilst I was at the Fernand Vaz, 

 exactly the size of the one described as coming from the Niger : but the 

 natives asking too high a price for it, I would not purchase it, and it came 

 into the possession of Captain Holder, the master of the Cambria, a vessel 

 trading to Bristol ; where the specimen is at present I do not know, but it 

 may jwssibly be the one Dr. Gray purchased for the British Museum. 



