24 THE CHIMPANZEE. 



of gigantic strength, and on one occasion was intercepted in the act of carrying a 

 soldier into the tree to which he was chained. This ape might, however, have been a 

 specimen of the gorilla. 



One great and almost radical objection to the weapon-using powers of the Chim- 

 panzee, may be found in the difficulty which these animals experience in standing 

 erect. In order to use a weapon effectively, the hands and arms must be at liberty and 

 the feet planted firmly on the ground. A defect in either of these conditions, is fatal 

 to the right handling of the weapon. Now, as the Chimpanzee has much difficulty 

 in preserving even a semi-erect position, and is forced to aid itself by placing the backs 

 of its hands on the ground, it will be at once seen that a club would not give very 

 much assistance to the creature. It might certainly launch stones with force and 

 effect ; but a weapon that requires the full and independent use of both sets of limbs, 

 would be of small beneft. 



Besides, the creature is already so terribly armed by nature with formidable fangs 

 and limbs of Herculean strength, that it needs no artificial means of offence, and 

 would probably be rather embarrassed by them than otherwise. 



Still, it is not improbable that these inquisitive animals have seen their human neigh- 

 bors armed with sticks, and in that irresistible spirit of imitation to which monkey 

 nature seems to be a victim, have armed themselves in similar manner, though with cer- 

 tain detrimental results. Should they really have recourse to these artificial and use- 

 less weapons, when brought into collision with human foes, it may be a providential 

 means of depriving them of those terrible natural weapons, which would be truly for- 

 midable, and so causing them to be the more easily overcome by man. Judging from 

 the familiar instances of their imitative nature, we may safely allow that the Chimpanzees 

 do carry sticks, although we may infer that such weapons would be worse than useless 

 to their bearers. 



In common with the orang-outang, and several other members of the same family, the 

 Chimpanzee is possessed of extremely mobile lips. In the lips, indeed, the whole ex- 

 pression of the face seems to be concentrated ; and by the lips the animal expresses 

 the various emotions of fear, astonishment, hatred, rage, or pleasure, that agitate the 

 ape's brain. Those lips can be protruded until they assume an almost snout-like aspect ; 

 they can be moulded into the strangest forms ; they can be withdrawn, and almost oblit- 

 erated from the countenance, when the creature extends its mouth into the grin of anger, 

 exhibiting its sharp teeth, and uttering its furious cries. There are in the face of the 

 ape none of those delicate lines that render the human countenance an index of the 

 mind within ; and, therefore, the animal makes the most of the limited means which it 

 possesses. Articulate voice it has none, although it can be taught to comprehend 

 the commands of its instructor ; but it is a proficient in natural language of action, and 

 by gesture can make itself understood without difficulty. 



Though the language of the ape be not articulate, according to our ideas, yet in their 

 wild state the Chimpanzee can talk well enough for their own purposes. One proof of 

 this, is the acknowledged fact that they can confer with one another sufficiently to act in 

 unison, at the same time and place, and with a given object. 



Strong and daring as they are, they do not appear to seek a contest with human 

 beings, but do their best to keep quietly out of the way. Like most animals that herd 

 together, even in limited numbers, the Chimpanzees have ever a watchful sentinel 

 posted on the look-out, whose duty it is to guard against the insidious approach of foes, 

 and to give warning if he sees, hears, or smells, anything of a suspicious character. 



Should the sentinel ape perceive a sign of danger, he sets up a loud cry, which has 

 been likened to the anguished scream of a man in sore distress. The other apes 

 know well enough the meaning of that cry, and signify their comprehension by an- 

 swering cries. If the danger continues to threaten, then the ape-conversation becomes 

 loud, shrill, and hoarse, and the air is filled with the various notes of the simian 

 language, perfectly understood by themselves, although to human ears it consists of 

 nothing but discordant yells and barks. 



On reference to the engraving on p. 20, it will be seen that the arms of this animal, of 

 the gorilla, and the orang-outang, are of considerably greater length than might be 



