Chap. II. THE CHIMPANZEE SENT TO ENGLAND. 25 



otlier pressed on its back, as if trying to hveak its 

 neck. Not wisliing to lose my cat, I interfered and 

 saved its life. The negroes say that the chimpanzee 

 attacks the leopard in this way, and I have no doubt, 

 from what I saw, that their statement is correct. 



My pet preserved his good health and increased 

 in intelligence and gentleness initil the departure 

 of Captain Vardon for England. I tlien sent him 

 home, and on bis arrival he was deposited hy my 

 friend in the Crj^stal Palace at Sydenham, where, I 

 dare say, very many of my readers have seen him, and 

 have laughed at his amusing tricks. I am credibly 

 informed that his education at the Palace has become 

 so far advanced that he understands what is going on 

 when his own " cartes de visite " are sold. A feint is 

 sometimes made of carrying off one without paying 

 for it, but Thomas rushes forward, screaming, to the 

 length of his tether, to prevent the irregular trans- 

 action, and does not cease his noisy expressions of 

 dissatisfaction until the money is paid down. 



Whilst waiting for the erection of a new house and 

 store-rooms, I made several little trips down the river, 

 visiting the Commi settlements and examining the 

 altered state of the river banks. The alterations in 

 the mouth of the Fernand Yaz I found had arisen 

 from the currents of the river and the sea having 

 broken through the long sandy spit, making the 

 embouchure broader but more dangerous, because 

 portions of the spit had been converted into sand- 

 banks Avith but a small depth of water over tliem ; 

 and, the sand having shifted, no one knew the situa- 

 4 



