234 APES AND MONKEYS 



sources, that the gorilla chief has been seen sitting quietly 

 eating under the shade of a tree while the others collected 

 and brought to him his food. I have never myself witnessed 



such a scene, but it seems probable that the same story 

 coming from two sources has some foundation of fact. 



In the matter of government the gorilla appears to be 

 somewhat more advanced than most animals. The chief leads 

 the others on the march and selects their feeding grounds 

 and their places to sleep. He breaks camp, and the others 

 all obey him in these respects. Other gregarious animals 

 do the same, but, in addition to these things, the gorillas 

 from time to time hold a rude form of court, or council, in 

 the jungle. It is said that the king presides on these 

 occasions ; that he sits alone in the center, while the others 

 stand or sit in a semicircle about him and talk in an ex- 

 cited manner. Sometimes all of them are talking at once. 

 Many of the natives claim to have witnessed these proceed- 

 ings ; but what the}" mean or allude to no native under- 

 takes to say, except that there appears to be something 

 of the nature of a quarrel. To what extent the chief 

 gorilla exercises the judicial function is a matter of doubt, 

 but there appears to be some real ground for the story. 



As to the succession of the kingship there is no authori- 

 tative information as yet to be had ; but from the meager 

 data upon this point the belief is that on the death of the 

 ikomba if there be an adult male he assumes the royal 

 prerogative ; otherwise the family disbands and eventu- 

 ally becomes absorbed by or attached to other families. 

 Whether this new leader is elected in the manner in which 

 other animals appoint a leader, or assumes it by reason of 



