16 



GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



in the forest it was almost invisible among the 

 foliage. 



While it was not strong enough to withstand a 

 prolonged siege, it afforded a certain immunity from 

 being surprised by the fierce and stealthy beasts of 

 the jungle, and would allow the occupant time to kill 

 an assailant before the wires would yield to an attack 

 from anything except an elephant. Of course it was 

 no protection against them, but as they rarely ever 

 attack a man unless provoked to it, there was little 

 danger from that source ; besides, there were not 

 many of those huge brutes in the immediate part in 

 which my strange domicile was set up. 



Through this open fabric one could see without 

 obstruction on all sides, and yet feel a certain 

 sense of safety from being devoured by leopards or 

 panthers. 



Over this frail fortress was a roof of bamboo 

 leaves, and it was provided with curtains of canvas 

 to be hung up in case of rain. The floor was of 

 thin boards, steeped in tar, and the structure was set 

 up about two feet from the ground, on nine small 

 posts. 



It was furnished with a bed, made of heavy 

 canvas supported by two poles of bamboo, attached 

 to the edge of it. One of these poles was lashed 

 fast to the side of the cage, and the other was 

 suspended at night by strong wire hooks, hung 

 on the top of it. During the day, the bed was 

 rolled up on one of the poles, so that it was out 

 of the way. I had a light camp chair, which folded 



