72 



GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



vowel element is that of long u as in the German. 

 This blends into a ''w," followed by the slightest 

 suggestion of the short sound of a." It appears to 

 express affection or love. This sound is also the 

 first of the series of sounds attributed to the gorilla. 



The most complex sound made by them is the one 

 elsewhere described as meaning **good." They 

 often use it in a sense very much the same as man- 

 kind uses the word thanks," but it is not probable 

 that they use it as a polite term, yet the same idea is 

 present. 



One of the words of warning or alarm contains a 

 vowel element closely resembling the short sound of 

 e." It terminates with the breathing sound of h." 

 It is used to announce the approach of anything that 

 he is familiar with, and not afraid of. If the sound 

 is intended to warn against the approach of an enemy, 

 or something strange, the same vowel element is 

 used, but terminates with the aspirate sound of '*h " 

 pronounced with energy and distinctness. The two 

 words are the same in vowel quality, but they differ 

 in the time required to utter them, and the final 

 breathing and aspirate effects. There is also a 

 difference in the manner of the speaker in the act of 

 delivering the word, which plainly indicates that he 

 knows the use and value of the sounds. At the 

 approach of danger the latter is often given almost 

 in a whisper, and at long intervals apart, but increases 

 in loudness as the danger approaches ; the other is 

 usually spoken distinctly and repeated frequently. 

 It is worthy of note that the native tribes often use 



