178 GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES 



was fond of flattery. Not perhaps in the same sense 

 that a human being is, but she was certainly con- 

 scious of approbation and fond of applause. When 

 she accomplished anything difficult, she seemed 

 aware of it ; and when she succeeded in doing a thing 

 which she was not allowed to do, she never failed to 

 express herself in the manner described above. She 

 always appeared to be perfectly conscious of being 

 observed by others, but she was defiant and com- 

 posed. There was nothing known in the catalogue 

 of mischief that she was not ready to tackle at any 

 moment and take her chances on the result. From 

 the stoke-hole to the funnel, from the jack-staff to 

 the rudder, she explored that boat. 



To keep her out of mischief, she was tied on the 

 saloon deck with a long line, but no one aboard the 

 vessel was able to tie a knot in the line which she 

 could not untie with dexterity and ease. Her 

 master, who was a sailor and an expert in the art of 

 tying knots, exhausted his efforts in trying to make 

 one that would defy her skill. 



On one occasion I was aboard the little steamer 

 when the culprit was brought up from the main deck 

 where she had been in some mischief, and tied to 

 one of the rails along the side of the boat. The 

 question of tying her was discussed, and at length a 

 new plan was devised. In the act of untying a knot 

 she always began with the part of the knot that was 

 nearest to her. It was now agreed to tie the line 

 around one of the rails on the side of the deck, about 

 half-way between the two stanchions that supported 



