THE APE. 



IN the deep recesses of the thickets of Africa, 

 wliere the rays of a tropical sun rarely pene- 

 trate, amidst the deadly miasma that is so fatal 

 to the European, the huge Gorilla with his family 

 is accustomed to take up liis abode. 



Largest of all known Apes, his appearance is 

 repulsive in the extreme. The enormous head, 

 joined to the huge body by a thick, short neck, 

 tlie immensely lengthened arms, and the feeble, 

 crooked legs, together with a countenance which 

 resembles much that of the Hippopotamus except 

 that it is not so flabby, and in which the lowest 

 animal passions are forcibly portrayed, unite in 

 forming a creature of the most otitrS and forbid- 

 ding appearance. 



But little is known of the habits of this animal 

 as yet. In fact the Gorilla was long tliought to 

 be a mere traveler's tale, but now many of tliem 

 have been seen, and some caught. It used to be 

 said of them that they always walked on their 

 hind feet, and had never been taken alive ; that 

 they liked to carry tlie branch of a tree as a sort 

 of walking-stick ; that they liked to watch the 

 actions of men, and imitated them as much as 

 possible. 



Mrs. Bowdich says of them : 



" Like the ivory hunters, they pick up the fallen 

 tusks of Elephants, but not knowing where to de- 

 posit them, they carry their burdens about until 

 they themselves drop, and even die, from fatigue ; 



tliat they build huts nearly in the shape of those 

 of men, but live on the outside ; and tliat wlien 

 one of their children dies, the mother carries it 

 in her arms until it falls to pieces ; that one blow 

 of their paw will kill a man, and that nothing 

 can exceed their ferocity." 



More than two thousand years ago, there is 

 reason to believe that Gorillas and other like 

 strange beasts that walked upright, and were 

 something like men, women, and children, were 

 seen by the sailors and passengers in a number 

 of Carthaginian ships, that sailed to tiie western 

 coast of Africa. 



Although stories are told of its ferocity and 

 untamable disposition, and it is said the natives 

 are afraid to enter the woods where they are nu- 

 merous, yet we cannot but believe that the Go- 

 rilla will prove as harmless in character as the 

 other large Apes are known to be. It never eats 

 flesh, but feeds upon roots and different vegeta- 

 bles which it finds growing wild in its native 

 woods ; and whenever molested, tries to escape 

 from its pursuers, only standing on the defen- 

 sive when wounded, or when retreat has been 

 made impossible. If angered, or in the act of 

 protecting its young, its great strength would 

 doubtless render it a formidable adversary. Yet 

 the Gorilla would seem to be possesse of a deli- 

 cate constitution since the young Gorillas when 

 taken alive, seldom have been reared. 

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