8 THE MAN-LIKE APES ., \ 



have died out, at least in its primitive form and 

 signification. Indeed, there is evidence that not 

 only in BattelTs time, but up to a very recent 

 date, it was used in a totally different sense from 

 that in which he employs it. 



For example, the second chapter of Purchas' 

 work, which I have just quoted, contains " A 

 Description and Historicall Declaration of the 

 Golden Kingdom of Guinea, &c. &c. Translated 

 from the Dutch, and compared also with the 

 Latin," wherein it is stated (p. 986) that 



"The River Gaboon lyeth about fifteen miles northward 

 from Rio de Angra, and eight miles northward from Cape 

 de Lope Gonsalvez (Cape Lopez), and is right under the 

 Equinoctial line, about fifteene miles from St. Thomas, and 

 is a great land, well and easily to be knowne. At the mouth 

 of the river there lieth a sand, three or foure fathoms deepe, 

 whereon it beateth mightily with the streame which runneth 

 out of the river into the sea. This river, in the mouth thereof, 

 is at least four miles broad ; but when you are about the 

 Hand called Pongo, it is not above two miles broad. . . . 



On both sides the river there standeth many trees 



The Hand called Pongo, which hath a monstrous high hill." 



The French naval officers, whose letters are 

 appended to the late M. Isidore Geoff. Saint 

 Hilaire's excellent essay on the Gorilla, 1 note in 

 similar terms the width of the Gaboon, the trees 

 that line its banks down to the water's edge, and 

 the strong current that sets out of it. They 

 describe two islands in . its estuary; one ]ow, 



1 Archives du Museum t Tome X. 



