52 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOUKNALS. [Chap. II. 



this was a great advance into the interior as compared with 

 Linant in 1827, 13° 30' N"., and even on the explorations of 

 Jomard (?) ; hut it turned when nearly a thousand miles 

 from the sources. 



[The subjoined account of the soko — which is in all pro- 

 bability an entirely new species of chimpanzee, and not the 

 gorilla, is exceedingly interesting, and no doubt Living- 

 stone had plenty of stories from which to select. Neither 

 Susi nor Chuma can identify the soko of Manyuema with 

 the gorilla, as we have it stuffed in the British Museum. 

 They think, however, that the soko is quite as large and 

 as strong as the gorilla, judging by the specimens shown 

 to them, although they could have decided with greater 

 certainty, if the natives had not invariably brought in the 

 dead sokos disembowelled ; as they point out, and as we 

 imagine from Dr. Livingstone's description, the carcase 

 would then appear much less bulky. Livingstone gives an 

 animated sketch of a soko hunt.] 



24:th August. — Four gorillas or sokos were killed yester- 

 day : an extensive grass-burning forced them out of their 

 usual haunt, and coming on the plain they were speared. 

 They often go erect, but place the hand on the head, 

 as if to steady the body. When seen thus, the soko is an 

 ungainly beast. The most sentimental young lady would 

 not call him a " dear," but a bandy-legged, pot-bellied, low- 

 looking villain, without a particle of the gentleman in him. 

 Other animals, especially the antelopes, are graceful, and it 

 is pleasant to see them, either at rest or in motion : the 

 natives also are well made, lithe and comely to behold, 

 but the soko, if large, would do well to stand for a picture 

 of the Devil. 



He takes away my appetite by his disgusting bestiality 

 of appearance. His light-yellow face shows off his ugly 

 whiskers, and faint apology for a beard ; the forehead 



