THE GORILLA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 249, 22 August 1861, Page 4

THE GORILLA.

lie followyig account of this animal, the •nearest resembling man of any that; has been met with, is from M. du Chaillu’s Explorations in Equatorial Africa—regions which have not before been visited by a white man The gorilla is only met in the most ..dark and impenetrable jungle, where it is difficult to get a clear aim, unobstructed by vines and tangled bushes, for any distance greater than a few yards. For this reason, the gorilla hunter wisely stands still and awaits the approach of the infuriated beast. The gorilla advances by short stages, stopping to utter his diabolical roar, and to beat his vast breast with his paws, which proiLujCe a dull reverberation a.s of an immense bass-drum. Sometimes from the standing position he seats himself and beats ibis chest, looking fiercely at his. adversary. H is walk is a waddle, from aide to side, his hind legs—-which are very short—-.being evidently somewhat inadequate to the proper support of the huge superincumbent body. He balances himself by swinging his ariigts, some-, what as sailors walk on shipboard j a.n,d the vast paunch, the round bullet joined awkwardly, .to the trunk with scarce a vestige of neck, and the great muscular arms, and deep* cavernous breast, give to. this waddle au ungainly horror, whieh adds to his ferocity of appearance. At the same time the deep-set. gray eyes sparkle out with gloomy malignity ; the features are contorted in hideous wrinkles ; and the slight, sharpjy-eut lips, drawn up, reveal the long fangs and the powerful jaws, in which a human limb would be crushed as a biscuit.

The hunter, looking with fearful care to his priming, stands still, gun in hand, often fur five weary minutes, waiting with growing nervousness for the moment when he may relieve his suspense by firing. I have never fired at a male at greater distance than eight yards, and from fourteen to eighteen Jeet is the usual shot. At last the opportunity comes ; and now the gun is quickly raised a moment’s anxious aim at the vast breadth of breast, and then. pull trigger. lii shooting the hippopotamus at night, and on shore, the negro always scampers off directly he ha§ fired his gun. When he has fired at the gorilla he stands still. I asked why they did not run in this case too, and was answered that it was of no use. To run would be fatal. If the huuter has missed he must- battle for his life face to face, hoping by some piece of unexpected good fortune to escape a fatal blow, and come off, perhaps maimed fur life, as I have seen several in the up-river villages. Fortunately, the gorilla dies as easily as man ; a shot in the breast, if fairly delivered, is sure to hiring him down. Me falls forward on bis face, his long muscular arms outstretched, and uttering with his last breath a hideous deathcry, half roar, half shriek, which, while it announces to the hunter his safety, yet tingles his ears.with a dreadful note of human agony. It is thifS lurking reminiscence of humanityi indeed, which, nufckes one of the chief ingredients of the hunter’s excitement in his attack of the gorilla.