THE CHIMPANZEE. 
21 
This is shown by a curious and rather absurd incident That occurred on board, a ship, where a 
young and docile Chimpanzee suddenly came in sight of a caged panther, which had taken 
voyage in the same vessel. 
The unexpected sight of the panther entirely overcame his feelings, and with a fearful yell 
he dashed along the deck, knocking over sundry of the crew in his passage. He then dived 
into the folds of a sail which was lying on deck, covered himself up with the sail-cloth, and 
was in such an agony of terror, that he could not be induced to come out of his retreat for a 
long time. 
His fright was not groundless, for the panther was as much excited as the ape, only with 
eager desire, and not with fear. It paced its cage for hours afterwards, and continued to watch 
restlessly, much as a cat may be seen to watch the crevice through which a mouse has made 
good its escape. 
There are also strange reports, which are still credited, that the Chimpanzees carry off 
negresses, and detain them in the woods for years, sometimes until they are released by death 
from their terrible captivity. 
The food of these creatures appears to be almost entirely of a vegetable nature, and they 
are very unprofitable neighbors to any one who has the misfortune to raise crops of rice, or 
to plant bananas, plantains, or papaus, within an easy journey of a Chimpanzee settlement. 
As is the case with many of the monkey tribes, the animal will eat food of a mixed character, 
when it is living in a domesticated state. 
The climate of France seems to be better suited to these animals than that of England. 
In the Jardin des Plantes, in Paris, there was a remarkably fine specimen of the Chim- 
panzee. Black, sleek, and glossy, he was facile princeps in the establishment, and none 
dared to dispute his authority. 
He was active enough, and displayed very great strength, and some agility, as he swung 
himself from side to side of the cage, by means of the ropes that are suspended from the roof ; 
but he preserved a dignified air as became the sole ruler. 
There was a kind of aristocratic calmness about the animal, and he would, at intervals, 
pause in his airy promenade, and, seating himself on a convenient spot, deliberately scan the 
large assembly that generally surrounded the monkey-house. His survey completed, he 
would eat a nut or a piece of biscuit, and recommence his leisurely gambols. His health 
seemed to be perfectly good, as was shown by the alertness of his movements, and the full, 
open look of his eyes. 
A sad contrast to this animal was presented by a wretched little Chimpanzee which I saw 
in England. It was still possessed of sufficient strength to move about its cage, but executed 
all its movements in a slow, listless manner, that would have told its own tale, had not the 
frequent hacking cough spoken so plainly of the consumption that was consuming its vitals. 
The countenance of the poor creature was very sad, and it did not appear to take the least 
interest in anything that occurred. 
I have seen many monkeys with this sad aspect, and was always haunted by their piteous 
looks for days afterwards. 
The ravages which this disease can make in the delicate formation of a monkey’s lung, 
before the creature finally succumbs, must be seen to be appreciated. The whole organ is so 
eaten up, and its color and substance so changed, that the spectator marvels that the creature’s 
life could have been sustained for an hour under such circumstances. 
As long, however, as they resist the untoward influence of our climate, the specimens 
which we have known, have always been extremely gentle and docile. Taught by the instinc- 
tive dread of cold, they soon appreciate the value of clothing, and learn to wrap themselves in 
mats, rugs, or blankets, with perfect gravity and decorum. Dress exercises its fascinations 
even over the ape, for one of these animals has been known to take such delight in a new and 
handsome costume, that he repudiated the previous dress, and in order to guard against the 
possibility of reverting to the cast-off garment, tore it to shreds. Whether the natives of 
Western Africa speak rightly in asserting that the Chimpanzee is capable of using weapons, 
is at present rather a doubtful point. The negroes say that the “Baboos,” as they call the 
