118 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



After a delay of eight days at Cape Lopez, we 

 secured passage on a small French gunboat, called 

 the Komo, by which we came to Gaboon, where I 

 found another kulu-kamba in the hands of a generous 

 friend, Mr. Adolph Strohm, who presented her to 

 me ; and I gave her to Aaron as a wife, and called 

 her Elisheba, after the name of the wife of the great 

 high-priest. 



Elisheba was captured on the head-waters of the 

 Mguni river, in about the same latitude that Aaron 

 was found in, but more than a hundred miles to the 

 east of that point and a few minutes north of it. I 

 did not learn the history of her capture. 



It would be difficult to find any two human beings 

 more unlike in taste and temperament than these 

 two apes were. Aaron was one of the most amiable 

 of creatures ; he was affectionate and faithful to 

 those who treated him kindly ; he was merry and 

 playful by nature, and often evinced a marked sense 

 of humour ; he was fond of human society, and 

 strongly averse to solitude or confinement. 



Elisheba was a perfect shrew, and often reminded 

 me of certain women that I have seen who had soured 

 on the world. She was treacherous, ungrateful, and 

 cruel in every thought and act ; she was utterly devoid 

 of affection ; she was selfish, sullen, and morose at all 

 times ; she was often vicious and always obstinate ; 

 she was indifferent to caresses, and quite as well 

 content when alone as in the best of company. 



It is true that she was in poor health, and had 

 been badly treated before she fell into my hands^ 



