BABY GORILLAS. 29 



to-day some pineapple leaves, of which I noticed he 

 ate only the white parts. 



" There seemed no difficulty about his food, though 

 he refused now and continued during his short life 

 to refuse all food, except such wild leaves and fruit as 

 were gathered from his native woods for him. 



"The third day he was still morose and savage, 

 bellowing when any person approached, and either 

 retiring to a distant corner or rushing to attack. 



" " On the fourth day, while no one was near, the little 

 rascal succeeded in forcing apart two of the bamboo 

 rails which composed his cage, and made his escape. 

 I came up just as his flight was discovered, and im- 

 mediately got all the negroes together for pursuit, de- 

 termining to surround the wood and recapture him. 

 Eunning into my house to get one of my guns, I was 

 startled by an angry growl issuing from under my low 

 bedstead. It was Master Joe, who lay hid there, but 

 anxiously watching my" movements. I instantly shut 

 the windows and called to my people to guard the door. 

 When Joe saw the crowd of black faces, he became 

 furious, and with his eyes glaring, and with every sign 

 of rage in his little face and body, got out from 

 beneath the bed. We shut the door at the same time, 

 and left him master of the premises, preferring to 

 devise some plan for his easy capture rather than to 

 expose ourselves to his terrible teeth. 



