FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF AFRICA. 



263 



When ill, it is patient under the surgeon's knife; and, accord- 

 ing to Brehm, if not entirely human, has a great deal of the human 

 within it. It cannot therefore excite our surprise that the natives 

 of West Africa are of opinion that the chimpanzees were once men, 

 who, on account of their bad qualities, have been thrust out from 

 human companionship; and still persisting in yielding to their evil 



THE CHIMPANZEE. 



impulses, have gradually sunk to their present degraded condition. 

 Less is known of the chimpanzee in a state of freedom; like the 

 gorilla, it does not live in troops, as do other monkeys, but in pairs, 

 or even alone; it is only occasionally that the young are seen to 

 assemble in larger bands. The chase is difficult. From twenty to 

 thirty skilled hunters are required for the pursuit. To them is 

 entrusted the difficult commission of climbing up the trees for more 



