4 
a great river, called Banna: in the winter it hath no barre, 
because the generall winds cause a great sea. But when the 
sunne hath his south declination, then a boat may goe in; for 
then it is smooth because of the raine. This river is very 
great, and hath many ilands and people dwelling in them. 
The woods are so covered with baboones, monkies, apes and 
parrots, that it will feare any man to travaile in them alone. 
Here are also two kinds of monsters, which are common in 
these woods, and very dangerous. 
“The greatest of these two monsters is called Pongo in 
their language, and the lesser is called Engeco. This Pongo 
is in all proportion like a man; but that he is more like a 
giant in stature than a man; for he is very tall, and hath a 
man’s face, hollow-eyed, with long haire upon his browes. 
His face and eares are without haire, and his hands also. 
His bodie is full of haire, but not very thicke ; and it is of a 
dunnish colour. 
“He diftereth not from a man but in his legs; for they have 
no calfe. Hee goeth alwaies upon his legs, and carrieth his 
hands clasped in the nape of his necke when he goeth upon 
the ground. They sleepe in the trees, and build shelters for 
the raine. They feed upon fruit that they find in the woods, 
and upon nuts, for they eate no kind of flesh. They cannot 
speake, and have no understanding more than a beast. The 
people of the countrie, when they travaile in the woods 
make fires where they sleepe in the night; and in the 
morning when they are gone, the Pongoes will come and sit 
about the fire till it goeth out ; for they have no understand- 
ing to lay the wood together. They goe many together and 
kill many negroes that travaile in the woods. Many times 
they fall upon the elephants which come to feed where they 
be, and so beate them with their clubbed fists, and pieces of 
wood, that they will runne roaring away from them. Those 
Pongoes are never taken alive because they are so strong, 
that ten men cannot hold one of them; but yet they take 
many of their young ones with poisoned arrowes. 
