60 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



bed, which, being very porous, acts as a resonance 

 cavity, and intensifies the sound. This constitutes 

 a kind of drum. It yields rather a dead sound, but 

 of considerable volume. 



This queer drum is made by chimpanzees, who 

 secure the clay along the bank of some stream in 

 the vicinity. They carry it by hand, and deposit it 

 while in a plastic state, spread it over the place 

 selected, and let it dry. I have, in my possession, a 

 part of one that I brought home with me from the 

 Nkami forest. It shows the finger-prints of the 

 apes, which were impressed in it while the mud was 

 yet soft. 



After the drum is quite dry, the chimpanzees 

 assemble by night in great numbers, and the carnival 

 begins. One or two will beat violently on this dry 

 clay, while others jump up and down in a wild and 

 grotesque manner. Some of "them utter long, 

 rolling sounds, as if trying to sing. When one tires 

 of beating the drum, another relieves him, and the 

 festivities continue in this fashion for hours. 



I know of nothing like this in the social economy 

 of any other animal, but what it signifies, or what 

 its origin was, is quite beyond my knowledge. It 

 appears probable that they do not indulge in this 

 kanjo in all parts of their domain, nor do they occur 

 at regular intervals. 



The chimpanzee is averse to solitude. He is fond 

 of the society of man, and is easily domesticated. 

 If allowed to go at liberty, he is well-disposed, and 

 is strongly attached to man, but if confined, he 



