SIMIAD.E. 387 



their wild state, their strength is enormous ; and that they have seen them 

 snap boughs off the trees with the greatest apparent ease, which the united 

 strength of two men could scarcely bend. The Chimpanzee is, without 

 doubt, to be found in all the countries from the banks of the Gambia, in 

 the north, to the kingdom of Congo, in the south ; as the natives of the 

 intermediate parts seem to be perfectly acquainted with them. From my 

 own experience, I can state that the low shores of the Bullom country, situ- 

 ated on the northern border of the River Sierra Leone, are infested by them, 

 in numbers quite equal to those of the commonest species of Monkey. I 

 consider these animals to be gregarious ; for, when visiting the rice farms 

 of the chief, Dalla Mohammadoo, on the Bullom shore, their cries plainly 

 indicated the vicinity of a troop, as the noise heard could not have been 

 produced by less than eight or ten of them. The natives also affirmed, 

 that they always travel in strong bodies, armed with sticks, which they use 

 with much dexterity. They are exceedingly watchful ; and the first one 

 who discovers the approach of a stranger, utters a protracted cry, much 

 resembling that of a human being in the greatest distress. The first time 

 I heard it, I was much startled : the animal was, apparently, not more than 

 thirty paces distant ; but had it been but five, I could not have seen it, 

 from the tangled nature of the jungle ; and I certainly conceived that such 

 sounds could only have proceeded from a human being, who hoped to 

 gain assistance, by his cries, from some terrible and instant death. The 

 native who was with me laid his hand upon my shoulder, and, pointing 

 suspiciously to the bush, said, ' Massa, Baboo live there ;' and in a few 

 minutes the wood appeared alive with them ; their cries resembling the 

 barking of Dogs. My guide informed me that the cry first heard was to 

 inform the troop of my approach, and that they would all immediately 

 leave the trees, or any exalted situation that might expose them to view, 

 and seek the bush : he also shewed evident fear, and entreated me not to 

 proceed any further in that direction. The plantations of bananas, pa- 

 paws, and plantains, which the natives usually intermix with their rice, 

 constituting the favourite food of the Chimpanzees, accounts for their 

 being so frequent in the neighbourhood of rice-fields. The difficulty of 

 procuring live specimens of this genus arises, principally, I should say, 

 from the superstitions of the natives concerning them, who believe they 

 possess the power of ' witching.' " 



GENUS. PITHECUS. 



Pithecus GEOFF. Ann. du Mus. xix. 1812. 



Simla in part ERXL. Syst. Regni Anim. 1777. 



Pithecus Cuv. Regn. An. 1829. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. MUZZLE large, elongated, somewhat rounded 

 anteriorly ; FOREHEAD sloping backward ; SUPERCILIARY RIDGES 



