NEWS FROM THE GORILLA . COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 7

NEWS FROM THE GORILLA . COUNTRY.

Lonml.i, September 7, 18-32.

Ilavinir spent ii\c active months in the Gorilla Country, I am iv a position to state that M. Dv Chaillu has ?hot neither leopards, buffaloes, nor goriilas; that the kuln-kamba does not utter the cry of '"Icooloo." or anything like it; that the young gorilla in captivity is not savage; and that, while M. da Clia'illu affects to have been "a poor fever-stricken wretch " at Cum ma (June Ist, 1859), he was really residing in robust health at the Gaboon.

Mon^ilomb", who is not a native hunter at all, and who was in my sirvicu three months as steward and natural hKtoiy assi^tan^, duped Mr. it. B. Walker in asserting that M. Dv Chailla had killed two gorilhs : nor did he ever accompany thai gentleman except in the above capacity.

From the Balengi to the Muni, from the Shekani and Fans of the Gaboon, from the Commi Bakeie, &<:., of the Fernand Vsz, upon the banks of which rivers I have hunted (always unsuccessfully) gorillas, examining those only who \\ere hunters, and reserving alone such evidence as was corroborative, I have gleaned the following facts respecting this ape of contention : — The gorilla dwells only in the densest parts of the forests : he feeds exclusivsly on vegetable matter, and one kind of grass is a sure indication of bis proximity ; at noon and eve he approaches the village plantations for the sake of the plantain, occasionally uttering a wild kind of cry, but which in rage (as imitated by Etia) becomes a quick sharp bark. By day he moves along the I ground on all fours (as, having crawled for i hours on their tracks, I can testify), sometimes ascending the trees. By night he chooses a large tree to sleep, in. He is exceedingly wary and keen of scent. When the female is pregnant he builds a nest (as do also the kulukamba and the chimpanzee), where she is delivered, and which is then abandoned. These nests, several of which I have seen, are simply rude layers of dry sticks, and of small branches evidently torn off the live tree by the hand. With regard to his ferocity, as a rule, when missed or wounded, he will charge. His charge, from which the natives often escape, being themselves nimble as apes, is made on all fours. Etia, whose left hand has been severely crippled, informed me that the gorilla seized his wrist with his. hind foot, anddrajjged his hand into his mouth as he would have done a bunch of plantains. Two things are at least certain— that the gorilla is less feared than the leopard ,- and the story ot a man killed by a gorilla at Camma is a complete f ibrication. Traditional accounts of such an incident exist, but nothing of the kind has happened within the memory of man. The tale of the gorilla assuming a boxing attitude, and beating his breast like a drum, originated from Quengneza, aud was unanimously refuted by all hunters from the Muni on the north, to the Pernand Vazonthe south. Thus in an obscure African village an old savage could tell a lie, which has blazed through Europe. The Apingi country, which is the Ultima jftiule of ~kl. Dv Chaillu's exploration, is distant from Gumbi (Ngmnbi) four ibot-days' journey in a southerly direction. In tracing the course of the Itembe, however, he adopted a longer route.

His description of the Fans (Bafanh), whom he visited in company with Mr. Mackay, of Corisco. it very good. In ascending the Gaboon to its rapids in the bosom of the Sierra del Crystal, I advanced some distance into their country, and found them gentle, hospi- i table, but cannibals undoubtedly, as one of I them confessed to me. Even the account of their ghoul-like propensities is in one case supported by evidence which I find it impossible to disbelieve. This book, so strange a melange of truth and fiction, was prepared by a gentleman well known in the Ntw York literary world, from (iopjous notes made by 31. dv Chaillu when engaged in these expeditions. And I must So the latter Uie justice to confess, that from tiie same sourcMpvhich afforded me proofs of his impostures, xlearn that he is a good marksman ; possessed of no common courage and endurance i that he has suffered many privations and misfortunes of which lie has said nothing ; that his character as a trader has been unjustly blemished; that his labours as a naturalist have been remarkable ; and that, during his residence in Africa he has won the affection of thp natives, and the esteem of those ■nho most merit to be esteemed — the missionaries. And a fellow-laborer, though an humble- pne,-may be permitted to regret'that, actuated" ty a foolish vanity or by ill-ad rice, he shp.ujd hare attempted to add artificial flowers to'awrea.th of laurels which he had fairly and hardly earned. W. Wixdwood Reabe. — Athenceum.