Chap. HI. GROUP OF GORILLAS. 49 



almost cloudless, and all around was still as death, 

 except the slight rustling of the tree-tops moved by 

 the gentle land breeze. When I reached the place, I 

 had first to pick my way through the maze of tree- 

 stumps and half-burnt logs by the side of a field of 

 cassada. I was going quietly along the borders of 

 this, when I heard, in the grove of plantain-trees 

 towards which I was walking, a great crashing noise, 

 like the breaking of trees. I immediately hid myself 

 behind a bush, and was soon gratified with the sight 

 of a female gorilla ; but before I had time to notice 

 its movements, a second and third emerged from the 

 masses of colossal foliage ; at length no less than four 

 came into view. 



They were all busily engaged in tearing down the 

 larger trees. One of the females had a young one 

 following her. I had an excellent opportunity of 

 watching the movements of the impish-looking band. 

 The shaggy hides, the protuberant abdomens, the 

 hideous features of these strange creatures, whose 

 forms so nearly resemble man, made up a picture like 

 a vision in some morbid dream. In destroying a tree, 

 they first grasped the base of the stem with one of 

 their feet and then with their powerful arms pulled it 

 down, a matter of not much difficulty with so loosely- 

 formed a stem as that of the j^lantain. They then set 

 upon the juicy heart of the tree at the bases of the 

 leaves, and devoured it with great voracity. While 

 eating they made a kind of clucking noise, ex- 

 pressive of contentment. Many trees they destroyed 

 apparently out of pure mischief. Now and then they 

 stood still and looked around. Once or twice they 



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