THE GORILLA. ,7 



of their kings ; for in the lower stages of man's progress he does honor to physical 

 force alone, and values his ruler in proportion to his power, brutality, and heartless- 

 ness. It is the best boast of a savage chief, no matter of what nation and of what 

 country, that he has " no heart." The savage crouches in terror before the imaged 

 incarnation of the evil principle, and adores, for he can only worship the object of his 

 fears. His belief is truly that of the demons " he believes and trembles." Rever- 

 ence for the inborn royalty of the Gorilla does not save the animal from the fate of 

 being eaten whenever it falls a victim to the weapons of its negro assailants. Perhaps 

 the very feeling of reverence may incite to the act, in a manner analogous to the filial 

 piety of the Scythians, which was best shown by killing their aged parents and duti- 

 fully eating them. 



But putting aside the terrors of diabolism, which are engrained in the native African 

 mind, the task of capturing a living and full-grown Gorilla is well calculated to appal 

 the heart of any man. The strength, the activity, and the cunning and sanguinary 

 malevolence of the animal are so great, that the uncivilized Africans may well be ex- 

 cused for their dread of its powers. 



Yet it does not follow that although the Africans have failed, Europeans should not 

 succeed. The native Africans have not dared to attempt the capture of the elephant, 

 although Europeans have succeeded in that endeavor, and have subdued the terrible 

 foe, converting it into a docile servant, and even making it an attached and intelligent 

 friend. 



Once or twice, the young Gorillas have been captured, in spite of the furious resist- 

 ance which is made by their male friends ; but from some reason they have always died 

 in a very short time. 



Cunning as is the Gorilla, and ingenious in some things to a striking degree, its in- 

 telligence is but limited, and the animal exhibits such unexpected instances of fatuity, 

 that it well shows the distinction between cunning and wisdom, and proves itself to be 

 but an animal, and nothing more. 



If it finds the remnant of a fire which has been relinquished by the persons who 

 kindled it, the Gorilla, is greatly charmed with the novel sensation produced by 

 artificial warmth, and sits by the bright wonder with much satisfaction. As the fire fails, 

 and the glowing brands sink into white ashes, the animal draws closer to the expiring 

 embers, and does not leave them until all heat has left the spot. But it never thinks 

 of keeping up the fire by placing fresh fuel upon it, and does not even learn to imitate 

 that action, which it may often have seen performed by the hunters who kindled the 

 fire, and kept it well supplied with fuel during the night. It is most providential that 

 the beast is devoid of this faculty, for, with the usual perseverance of the monkey race 

 in such cases, it would probably continue to heap fuel, until the forest itself was ablaze. 



It is said also, that when the Gorilla makes an incursion into a sugar plantation, it 

 has sufficient sense to bite off a number of the canes, and to twist them into a bundle 

 for better conveyance. But it frequently includes several of the growing canes in its 

 fagot, and then feels woefully discomfited because it cannot carry away the parcel 

 which had cost so much trouble in making. 



The natives of Africa have an idea that these, and other large apes, are really men ; 

 but that they pretend to be stupid and dumb, in order to escape impressment as slaves. 

 Work, indeed, seems to be the summum malum in the African mind, and a true African 

 never works if he can help it. As to the necessary household labors, and the task of 

 agriculture, he will not raise a finger, but makes his wives work, he having previously 

 purchased them for that purpose. In truth, in a land where the artificial wants are so 

 few unless the corruptions of pseudo-civilization have made their entrance and 

 where unassisted nature is so bountiful, there is small need of work. The daily" life 

 of a " black fellow " has been very graphically described in a few words. He gets a 

 large melon ; cuts it in two and scoops out the inside ; one half he puts on his head, 

 he sits in the other half, and eats the middle. 



It is rather singular that this legendary connection of apes and indolence should 

 prevail on the continents of Africa and Asia. 



The outline of the Gorilla's face is most brutal in character, and entirely destroys 



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