OTHER CHIMPANZEES
Among the number of chimpanzees that I have seen are some whose actions
are worthy of record; but as many of them were the repetition of
similar acts of other specimens which are elsewhere described, we shall
omit them, and relate only such other acts as may tend to widen the
circle of our knowledge, and more fully illustrate the mental range of
this interesting tribe of apes.
In passing through the country of the Esyira tribe, I came to a small
village where I halted for a rest. On entering the open space between
two rows of bamboo huts, I saw a group of native children at the
opposite end of the space, and among them a fine big chimpanzee, who
was sharing with them in their play.
When they discovered the presence of a white man in the town, they left
their sport and came to inspect me. The ape also came, and he showed
as much interest in the matter as any one else did. I was seated in
a native chair in front of the king's hut, and the people, as usual,
stood around me at a respectful distance, looking on as if I had been
some wild beast captured in the jungle. The ape was aware that I was
not a familiar kind of thing, and he appeared in doubt as to how he
should act towards me. He sat down on the ground among the people,
and stared at me in surprise, from time to time glancing at those
around him as if to ascertain what they thought of me. As they became
satisfied with looking, they retired one by one from the scene, until
most of them had gone, but the ape remained. He changed his place a few
times, but only to get a better view. The people were amused at his
manner, but no one molested him.
At length I spoke to him in his own language, using the sound which
they use for calling one another. He looked as if he knew what it
meant but made no reply. I repeated the sound, when he rose up and
stood on his feet as if he intended to come to me. Again I uttered
it, and he came a few feet closer, but shied to one side as if to
flank my position and get behind me. He stopped again to look, and I
repeated the word, in response to which he came up near my right side,
and began to examine my clothing. He plucked at my coat-sleeve a few
times, then at the leg of my trousers and at the top of my boot. He
was getting rather familiar for a stranger, but I felt myself to blame
for having given him the license to do so. For a while he continued
his investigations, then deliberately put his left hand on my right
shoulder, his right foot on my knee, and climbed into my lap. He now
began to examine my helmet, ears, nose, chin and mouth. He became a
little rough, and I tried to get him down out of my lap, but he was
not disposed to go. Finally, I told my boy, who acted as interpreter,
to tell the native lads to come and take him away. This amused them
very much, for they saw that I was bigger than the ape, and thought I
ought therefore to manage him myself. They complied, however, but his
apeship declined to go until one of the men of the town interfered and
compelled him to do so.
As he got down from my lap, one of the boys bantered him to play. He
accepted the challenge, and ran after the lad until they reached the
end of the open space between the houses, when the boy fell upon the
ground and the ape fell on him. They rolled and wallowed on the ground
for a time, when the ape released himself and ran away to the other end
of the opening, the boy pursuing him. When they reached the end of the
street, they again fell upon each other and another scuffle ensued. It
was plain to be seen that the boy could run much faster than the ape,
but he did not try to elude him.
The other children crowded around them or followed them, looking on,
laughing and shouting in the greatest glee. First one boy and then
another took his turn in the play, but the ape did not lose interest in
me. He stopped from time to time to take another survey, but did not
try again to get upon my lap.
[Illustration: NATIVE VILLAGE AT MOILE--INTERIOR OF NYANZA]
After a long time at this sport, the ape quit playing and sat down by
the wall of a house, with his back against it; the children tried in
vain to induce him to resume, but he firmly declined, and sat there
like a tired athlete, picking his teeth with a bamboo splinter, which
he had pulled off the side of the house.
His conduct was so much like that of the children with whom he was
playing, that one could not have distinguished him from them except
by his physique. He enjoyed the game as much as they did, and showed
that he knew how to gain or use an advantage over his adversary. In a
scuffle he was stronger and more active than the boys, but in the race
they were the more fleet. He screamed and yelled with delight, and in
every way appeared to enter into the spirit of the fun.
He was about five years old, and his history, as it was given to me,
was that he had been captured when quite young in the forest near that
place and ever since that time had lived in the village. He had been
the constant playmate of the children, ate with them, and slept in the
same houses with them. He was perfectly tame and harmless; he knew
every one in the village by name, and knew his own name.
The king's son, to whom he belonged, assured me that the ape could
talk, and that he himself could understand what he said; but he
declined to gratify my request to hear it. However, he called the ape
by name, and told him to come to him, which he obeyed. He then gave
him a long-necked gourd, and told him to go to the spring and bring
some water. The animal hesitated, but on repeating the command two or
three times, he reluctantly obeyed. After a few minutes he returned
with the gourd about half filled with water. In carrying the vessel
he held it by the neck, but this deprived him of the use of one hand.
He waddled along on his feet, using the other hand, but now and then
would set the gourd on the ground, still holding to it, and using it
something after the manner of a short stick. On delivering the gourd
of water to his master, he gave evidence of knowing that he had done
a clever thing. I expressed a desire to see him fill the gourd at the
spring. The water was then emptied out, and the gourd again given to
him. On this occasion we followed him to the place where he got the
water. On arriving, he leaned over the spring and pressed the gourd
into the water, but the mouth of it was turned down so that the water
could not flow into it. As he lifted the gourd out, it turned to one
side and a small quantity flowed into it. He repeated the act a number
of times, and seemed to know how it ought to be done, although he was
very awkward in doing it. Whenever the water in the mouth of the gourd
would bubble, he would dip it back again and was evidently aware that
it was not filled. Finally, raising the vessel, he turned and offered
it to his master, who declined to relieve him of it. We turned to go
back into the town, and the ape followed us with the gourd, but all the
way along continued to mutter a sound of complaint.
He next sent him into the edge of the forest to bring firewood. He was
only gone a few minutes when he returned with a small branch of dead
wood which he had picked up on the ground. He again sent him, together
with three or four children. When he returned on this occasion he had
three sticks in his hand. The man explained to me that, when the ape
went alone he would never bring but one twig at a time, and this was
sometimes not bigger than a lead-pencil; but if the children went with
him and brought wood, he would bring as much as he could grasp in one
hand. He also told me that the animal would sit down on the ground and
lay the sticks across one arm in the same manner as the children did,
but invariably dropped them when he would rise up. Then he would seize
what he could in one hand, and bring it along. He also said, that in
carrying a single stick the ape always used the hand in which he held
it; but if he had three or four pieces that he always curved his arm
inwards, holding the wood against his side, and hobbled along with his
feet and the other hand.
The next thing with which he entertained me was sending the ape to call
some one in the village. He first sent him to bring a certain one of
the man's wives. She was several doors away from where we sat. The ape
went to one house, sat down at the door for a moment, looking inside,
and then moved slowly along to the next, which he entered. Within a
minute he appeared at the door holding the cloth that the woman wore
tied around her, and in this manner led her to his master. He next sent
him to bring a certain boy, which he did in a similar manner, except
that the boy had on no clothing of any kind, and the ape held him by
the leg.
During all these feats the man talked to him, as far as I could tell,
in the native language only, though he declared to me that some of the
words that he had used were those of the ape's own speech. However,
he said that many words that the ape knew were of the native speech,
and that the ape had no such words in his language. One thing that
especially impressed me was a sound which I have elsewhere described
as meaning "good" or "satisfaction," which this man said was the word
which these apes use to mean "mother." My own servant had told me the
same thing before, but I am still of the opinion that they are mistaken
in the meaning of the sound, although it is almost exactly the same
as the word for mother in the native speech. The difference being in
the vowel element only, and it is possible, I grant, that the word may
have both meanings. A little later one of the women came to the door
of a house and said, in the native language, that something was ready
to eat, whereupon the children and the ape at once started. In the
meantime she set an earthen pot, containing boiled plantains, in front
of the house, from which all the children and the ape alike helped
themselves. In brief, the ape was a part of the family, and was so
regarded by all in the town.
I do not know to what extent they may have played upon my credulity,
but, so far as I could discern, their statements concerning the animal
were verified.
I proposed to buy the ape, but the price asked was nearly twice that
of a slave, and I could have bought any child in the town at a smaller
cost. I have never seen any other chimpanzee that I so much coveted.
When standing in an upright position, he was quite four feet in height,
strongly built, and well-proportioned. He was in a fine, healthy
condition, and in the very prime of his life. He was not handsome in
the face, but his coat of hair was of good colour and texture. He was
of the common variety, but a fine specimen.
Mr. Otto Handmann, formerly the German consul at Gaboon, had a very
fair specimen of this same species of chimpanzee. He was a rough, burly
creature, but was well-disposed and had in his face a look of wisdom
that was almost comical. He had been for some months a captive in a
native town, during which time he had become quite tame and docile. By
nature he was not humorous, but appeared to acquire a sense of fun as
he grew older and became more familiar with the manners of men.
On my return from the interior, I was invited by the consul to take
breakfast with himself and a few friends; but owing to a prior
engagement I was not able to be present. It was proposed by some one of
the guests present that my vacant seat at the table should be filled by
the chimpanzee. He was brought into the room and permitted to occupy
the seat. He behaved himself with becoming gravity, and was not abashed
in the presence of so many guests. He was served with such things as
were best suited to his liking, and his demeanour was such as to amuse
all present. On proposing a toast, all the guests beat with their
hands upon the table, and in this the chimpanzee joined with apparent
pleasure. After a few rounds of this kind, one of the guests, occupying
the seat next to him, failed to respond with the usual beating; the
chimpanzee observed the fact, turned upon the guest, and began to
claw, scream, and pound him on the back and arm until the gentleman
proceeded to beat, whereupon the ape resumed his place and joined in
the applause. On this occasion he acquitted himself with credit, but an
hour later he had fallen into disgrace by drinking beer until he was
actually drunk, when he awkwardly climbed off the chair, crawled under
the table, and went to sleep.
One of the clerks in the employ of the consul also had a fair specimen
of this same species. It was a female, perhaps two years younger than
the one just described, but equally addicted to the habit of drinking
beer. It is the custom among people on the coast to offer to a guest
something to drink, and on these occasions this young lady ape always
expected to partake with others. If she was overlooked in pouring out
beer for others, she always set up a complaint until she got her glass.
If it was not given to her, she would go from one to another, holding
out her hand and begging for a drink. If she failed to secure it, she
would watch her opportunity, and while the guest was not looking,
would stealthily reach up, take his glass off the table, drink the
contents, and return the glass to its place. She would do this with
each one in turn, until she had taken the last glass; but if a glass
was given to her at the same time that the others were served, she was
content with it and made no attempt to steal that of another.
In this act she evinced a skill and caution worthy of a confirmed
thief; she would secrete herself under the table or behind a chair,
and watch her chance. She made no attempt to steal the glass while it
was being watched, but the instant she discovered that she was not
observed, or thought she was not, the theft was committed.
Her master frequently gave her a glass and bottle of beer to help
herself. She could pour the beer out with dexterity. She often spilt a
portion of it, and sometimes filled the glass too full, but always set
the bottle right end up, lifted the glass with both hands, drained it,
and refilled it as long as there was any in the bottle. She could also
drink from the bottle, and would resort to this if no glass was given
her. She knew an empty bottle from one that contained beer.
This ape was very much attached to her master, would follow him, and
cry after him like a child. She was affectionate to him, but had been
so much annoyed by strangers that her temper was spoiled and she was
irritable.
I may remark here, that I have known at least five or six chimpanzees
that were fond of beer, and would drink it until they were drunk
whenever they could get it. I have never seen one, that I am aware of,
that would drink spirits.
Arriving on the south side of Lake Izanga, I found a young chimpanzee
at the house of a white trader. It was tied to a post in the yard,
where it was annoyed by the natives who came to the place to trade. On
approaching it for the first time, I spoke to it in its own language,
using the word for food. It recognised the sound at once and responded
to it. As I came nearer, it advanced as far towards me as the string
with which it was tied would allow. Standing erect and holding out its
hands, it repeated the sound two or three times. I gave it some dried
fish which it ate with relish, and we at once became friends. Its
master permitted me to release it on the condition that I should not
allow it to escape. I did so, and took the little captive in my arms.
It put its arms around my neck as if I had been the only friend it had
on earth. It clung to me, and would not consent for me to leave it. I
could but pity the poor, neglected creature. There it was, tied in the
hot sun, hungry, lonely, and exposed to the tortures of every heartless
native that chose to tease it. When it was not in my arms, it followed
me around and would not leave me for a moment. Its master cared but
little for it, and left it to the charge of his boy, who, like all
other natives, had no thought or concern for the comfort of any
creature but himself. I tried to purchase it, but the price was too
much, and after two days our friendship was broken for ever. But I was
glad to learn, soon after this, that another trader secretly released
it, and let it escape into the forest. The man who did this told me
himself that he did it as an act of mercy. I often recall this little
prisoner to mind, and always feel a sense of gladness at knowing that
he was set at liberty by a humane friend. Whatever may have been his
fate in the forest, it could have been no worse than to be confined,
starved, and tormented as he was, while in captivity.
Another small specimen, which I saw at Gaboon, was not of much value
except from one fact, and that was, it was broken out with an eruptive
disease prevalent among the natives. It is called crawcraw or kra-kra.
It is said to originate from the water, either by external or internal
use of it. This animal was infected in the same way and on the same
parts of the body as men are affected by the same disease, and is
another instance of their being subject to the same maladies as
those of man. The specimen itself also exemplified the difference in
intellect among these animals, for this one had in its face the look
of mental weakness, and every act confirmed the fact. It was silent,
inactive and obtuse.
During my residence in the cage I did not see so many chimpanzees as
I saw of gorillas, but from those I did see it was an easy matter to
determine that they were much less shy and timid than the gorilla.
On one occasion I heard one in the bush not far away from the cage. I
called him with the usual sound and he answered, but did not come to
the cage. It is probable that he could see it, and was afraid of it.
I tried to induce Moses to call him, and he did once utter the sound,
but he appeared to regret having made the attempt. I called again and
he answered, and from the manner in which Moses behaved it was evident
that he understood it. He would not attempt the call again, but clung
to my neck with his face buried under my chin. It was probably jealousy
that caused him to refuse, because he did not want the other to share
my attentions. I gave the food sound, but I could not induce the
visitor to come nearer. I failed to get a view of him so as to tell how
large he was, but from his voice he must have been about grown. Whether
he was quite alone or not I was not able to tell, but only the one
voice could be heard.
Another time, while sitting quite alone, a young chimpanzee, perhaps
five or six years old, appeared at the edge of a small opening of the
bush. He plucked a bud or leaf from a small plant. He raised it to his
nose and smelt it. He picked three or four buds of different kinds, one
or two of which he put in his mouth. He turned aside the dead leaves
that were lying on the ground as if he expected to find something
under them. I spoke to him, using the call sound; he instantly turned
his eyes towards me, but made no reply. I uttered the food sound and
he replied, but stood where he was. He betrayed no sign of fear, and
little of surprise. He surveyed the cage and myself, and I repeated
the sound two or three times. He refused to approach any nearer. He
turned his head from side to side for a moment as if in doubt which way
to go; then turned aside and disappeared in the bush. He did not run or
start away as if in great fear, but by the sound of the shaking bushes
it could be told that he increased his speed after he once disappeared
from view.
One day I had been for a stroll with Moses and the boy. As we returned
to the cage we saw a chimpanzee about half-grown; he was crossing the
rugged little path about thirty yards away from us. He paused for a
moment to look at us, and we stopped. I tried to induce Moses to call
out to him, but he declined to do so. As the stranger turned aside
I called to him myself, but he neither stopped nor answered. This
one appeared to be quite brown, but the boy assured me his hair was
jet black, but his skin being light gave him this colour. To satisfy
myself, I had Moses placed in the same place and position, and looking
at him from the same distance I was convinced that the boy was right.
One morning, as I started with Moses for a walk, I had only gone some
forty yards away from the cage when he made a sound of warning. I
instantly looked up, when I saw a large chimpanzee standing in the bush
not more than twenty yards away. I paused to look at him. He stood for
a moment, looking straight at us. I spoke to him, but he made no reply;
he moved off almost parallel to the little path which we were in, and
I returned towards the cage. He did not come any nearer to us, but kept
his course almost parallel with ours. He turned his head from time
to time to look, but gave no sign of attack. I called to him several
times, but he made no answer. When I reached a place in front of the
cage I called again, and after the lapse of a few seconds he stopped.
By this time he was concealed from view. He only halted for a moment,
changed his course and resumed his journey. This was the largest one I
saw in the forest.
At another time, while sitting in the cage, I heard the sound of
something making its way through the bush not more than twenty yards
away; presently it passed in view. As it crossed the path near by, I
called three or four times, but it neither stopped nor answered. As
well as I could tell, it appeared to be a female and quite grown.
I may take occasion to remark that while the chimpanzee is mostly
found in large family groups, as I have reason to believe from native
accounts of them, and from what has been told me by white men, I have
never been able to see a family of them together, but each of these
that I have mentioned, so far as I could tell, was quite alone. Whether
the others were scattered through the forest in like manner, hunting
for food, and all came together after this or not, I can only say that
every chimpanzee that I saw was alone at the time.
Another thing worthy of mention is the fact that both these apes live
in the same forest, and twice on the same day I have seen both kinds.
This is contrary to the common idea that they do not inhabit the same
jungle. It appears that where there is a great number of the one there
are but few of the other. The natives say that in combat between the
chimpanzee and gorilla, the former is always victor, on which account
the latter is afraid of him. I believe this to be true, because the
chimpanzee, although not so strong, is more active and more intelligent
than the gorilla.
The chimpanzee will not approach or attack man if he can avoid it,
but he does not shrink from him as the gorilla does. One instance
that will illustrate this phase of his character I shall relate. On
one occasion recently, while I was on the coast, a native boy started
across a small plain near the trading station. Along with him was a
dog that belonged to the white trader at the place. The dog was in
advance of the boy, and as the latter emerged from a small clump of
the bush he heard the dog bark in a playful manner, and discovered him
not more than thirty yards away, prancing, jumping, and barking in a
jolly way with a chimpanzee which appeared to be five or six years old.
The ape was standing in the path along which the boy was proceeding.
He was slapping at the dog with his hands, and did not seem to relish
the sport, yet he was not resenting it in anger. The dog thought the
ape was playing with him, and he was taking the whole thing in fun.
The boy looked at them for a few moments and retreated. As soon as he
disappeared the dog desisted and followed him to the house. The boy
was afraid of the ape, and made no attempt to capture him. The latter
was taken by surprise by the dog and boy, and thus had no time to
escape. He did not strike to harm the dog, but only to ward him off.
The dog made no attempt to bite him, but when he would jump up against
him he would knock the ape out of balance, and this annoyed him. He
didn't seem to understand just what the dog meant.
I shall not describe those so well known in captivity, only to mention
some of them. The largest specimen of the chimpanzee that I have ever
seen was Chico, who belonged to Mr. James A. Bailey, of New York. He
was as large perhaps as these apes ever become, although he was less
than ten years old when he died.
Perhaps the most valuable specimen for scientific use that has ever
been in captivity is Johanna, who belongs to the same gentleman. The
history that is given of her, however, is hardly to be taken in full
faith. Her age cannot be determined with certainty, but it is said that
she is about thirteen years old. I have reason to doubt that, although
I cannot positively deny it. Whatever may be her exact age, it is
certain that she has now reached a complete adult state. She has grown
to be quite as large as Chico was at the time of his death. She is not
of amiable temper, but is much less vicious than he was. She has some
of the marks of a kulu kamba.
In order to justify my doubts upon the subject of her age, I may state
that Chico was only ten years of age when he died, but had reached the
adult period; and as males do not reach that state sooner than the
females of any genus of the primates, it is not probable that he was
mature at ten, while she was not so until twelve. In the next place,
her captors claim to have seen her within a few hours after her birth,
and that they watched her and her mother from time to time until she
was one year old, when they killed the mother and captured the babe.
The claim is absurd. These apes are nomadic in habit, and are rarely
ever seen in the same place. They claim that she was born on January
19, but from what I know of these apes that is not their season of
bearing, and I doubt if any of them were ever born during that month.
Again, it is claimed that she was captured by Portuguese explorers in
the Congo, but the Portuguese do not possess any territory along that
river in which these apes are ever found. They claim the territory
around Kabenda, which would indicate that she came from the Loango
Valley instead of the Congo, but the cupidity of the average Portuguese
would never allow anything to go at liberty for a year if it could be
sold before that time.
Johanna is accredited with a great deal of intelligence; but I do not
regard her as being above the average of her race. Since the death
of her companion, Chico, she has received the sole attention of her
keeper, and since that time has been taught a few things which are
neither marvellous nor difficult. In point of intellect she cannot be
regarded as an extraordinary specimen of her tribe. I do not mean to
detract from her reputation, but I have failed to discover in her any
high order of mental qualities.
The reason why Johanna may be regarded as the most valuable specimen
for study is the fact that she is the only female of her race that
has ever reached the state of puberty. She has done so, and this fact
enables us to determine certain things which have never heretofore been
known. This affords the Zoologists an opportunity for the study of her
sexual development which may not again present itself in many years to
come. From this important point of view she presents the student with
many new problems in that branch of science.
I have elsewhere stated as my opinion that the female chimpanzee
reaches the age of puberty at seven to nine years, and I have many
reasons which I will not here recount, that cause me to adhere to that
belief. But the uncertainty of the age of this ape does not destroy her
value as a subject of scientific study.
The most sagacious specimen of the race that I have been brought in
contact with is Consul II., who is now an inmate of the Bellvue Garden
of Manchester, England. He has not been educated to perform mere tricks
to gratify the visitor in the way that animals are usually trained, but
most of the feats that he performs are prompted by his own desire and
for his own pleasure.
[Illustration: CONSUL II. RIDING A TRICYCLE]
There is a vast difference in the motives that prompt animals in the
execution of these feats. I have elsewhere mentioned the fact that
animals that are caused to act from fear do so mechanically, and it is
not a true index to their intellect. While Consul and a few other apes
that I have seen do many things by imitation they do not do so from
coercion. They seem to understand the purpose and foresee the results,
and these impel them to act.
Some of the feats performed by this ape I have never seen attempted
by any other. One accomplishment is riding a tricycle. He knows the
machine by the name of "bike," although it is not really a bicycle. He
can adjust it and mount it with the skill of an acrobat. The ease and
grace with which he rides are sufficient to provoke the envy of any
boy in England. He propels it with great skill and steers it with the
accuracy of an expert. He guides it around angles and obstacles in the
way with absolute precision.
Consul is allowed to go at liberty a great deal of his time, which is
the proper way to treat these apes in captivity. He rides the wheel for
his own diversion. He does not do it to gratify strangers or to "show
off."
Another accomplishment which he has, is that of smoking a pipe, cigar,
or cigarette. It may not be commended from a moral standpoint, but the
act appears to afford him quite as much pleasure as it does the average
boy when he first acquires it, and he has also formed the habit of
spitting as he smokes, but he has the good manners not to spit on the
floor. When Consul has his pipe lighted he usually sits on the floor
to enjoy it, and he spreads a sheet of paper down before him to spit
on. When he has finished smoking he rolls up the paper and throws it
into some corner out of the way. When playing about the grounds he
often finds a cigar stub. He knows what it is, picks it up, puts it
into his mouth and at once goes to his keeper for a light. He will not
attempt to light his pipe or cigar, because he is afraid of burning his
fingers; but he will light a match and hand it to his keeper to hold
while lighting the pipe. He sometimes takes a piece of paper, lights it
in the fire and hands it to some one else to light his pipe for him. He
is afraid of the fire, and will not hold the paper while it is burning.
If any one hesitates to take it from him, he throws it at them and gets
out of the way. He is not so fond of cigarettes, because he gets the
tobacco in his mouth, and he does not like the taste of it.
When Consul is furnished with a piece of chalk, he begins to draw some
huge figure on the wall or floor. He never attempts to make a small
design with chalk, but if given a pencil and paper he executes some
peculiar figure of smaller design. Those made with the chalk or pencil
are usually round or oval in shape, but if given a pen and ink he at
once begins to make a series of small figures containing many acute
angles. Whether these results are from design or accident I cannot
say, but he appears to have a well-defined idea as to the use of the
instrument, but whether he can distinguish between writing and drawing
I am unable to say.
The only abstract thing that his keeper has tried to teach him is to
select the letters of the alphabet. He has learned to distinguish the
first three. These are made upon the faces of cubical blocks of wood:
each block contains one letter on each of its faces. He selects the
letter asked for with very few mistakes, and this appears to be from
indifference more than from ignorance.
Consul is very fond of play, and makes friends with some strangers on
sight, but to others he takes an aversion without any apparent cause,
and while he is not disposed to be vicious when not annoyed, he resents
with anger the approaches of certain persons. He is the only one I have
seen that can use a knife and fork with very much skill, but he cuts up
his food with almost as much ease as a boy of the same age would do,
and uses his fork in eating. He has been taught to do this until he
rarely uses his fingers in the act. He is fond of coffee and beer, but
does not care for spirits.
There is nothing that so much delights Consul as to get into the large
cage of monkeys and baboons kept in the garden. Most of them are afraid
of him. But one large Guinea baboon is not, and on every occasion he
shows his dislike for the ape. The latter, however, takes many chances
in teasing him, but always manages to evade his attack. He displays
much skill and a great degree of caution in playing these pranks upon
the baboon when at close range. Upon the approach of the ape the other
animals in the cage all seek some refuge, and he finds great diversion
in stealing up to their place of concealment to frighten them. Consul
is very strong, and can lift objects of surprising weight. It is
awkward for him to stand in an upright position, but he does so with
more ease than any other chimpanzee that I have ever seen. If any one
will take hold of his hand he will stroll with him for a long time
without apparent fatigue.
Owing to the sudden changes of temperature in that part of England, he
is provided with a coat, which he is often required to wear when going
out of doors. He does not like to be hampered with such garments, and
if for a moment he is not watched, he removes it, and sometimes hides
it to keep from wearing it. He is also provided with trousers, which he
dislikes more if possible than his coat; but above all other articles
of wearing apparel he dislikes shoes. His keeper often puts them on
him, but whenever he gets out of sight he unties and removes them. He
cannot tie the laces, but can untie them in an instant.
[Illustration: CONSUL II. IN FULL DRESS]
He does not evince so much aversion to a hat or cap, and will sometimes
put one on without being told; but he has a perfect mania for a silk
hat, and if allowed to do so he would demolish that of every stranger
who comes to the garden. He has a decided vein of humour and a love
of approbation. When he does anything that is funny or clever, he is
perfectly aware of the fact; and when by any act he evokes a laugh
from any one he is happy, and recognises the approval by a broad
chimpanzee grin.
In the corner of the monkey-house is a room set apart for the keeper,
and in this room supplies of food for the inmates are kept. In a small
cupboard in one corner is kept a supply of bananas and other fruits.
Consul knows this and has tried many times to burglarise it. On one
occasion he secured a large screw-driver and attempted to prise open
the door. He found the resistance to be greatest at the place where
the door locked, and at this point he forced the instrument in the
crevice and broke off a piece of the wood about an inch wide from the
edge of the door. At this juncture he was discovered and reproved for
his conduct, but he never fails to stick his fingers in this crack and
try to open the door. He has not been able to unlock it when the key
is given him, although he knows the use of it, and has often tried,
but his keeper has never imparted the secret to him, and his method of
using the key has been to prise with it, or pull it instead of turning
it after putting it in the keyhole.
The young keeper, Mr. Webb, deserves great credit for his untiring
attention to this valuable young ape, and the results of his zeal are
worthy of the recognition of every man who is interested in the study
of animals.
Another specimen that may be regarded as an intermediate type was
recently kept in Belle Vue Gardens at Manchester. He was playful and
full of mischief. He had been taught to use a stick or broom to
fight with, and with such a weapon in his hand would run all over the
building, hunting some one to fight. He did not appear to be serious in
his assault, but treated it as fun. It was a bad thing to teach an ape,
because they grow pugnacious as they grow older, and all animals kept
closely confined acquire a bad temper.
In an adjoining cage was kept a young orang, and the two ate at the
same table. The chimpanzee appeared to entertain a species of contempt
for the orang. The keeper had taught him to pass the bread to his
neighbour, and he obeyed this with such reluctance that his manner
betrayed more disgust than kindness. A few small pieces of bread were
placed on a tin plate, and the kulu was required to lift the plate in
his hand, and offer it to the orang before he himself was allowed to
eat. He would lift the plate a few inches above the table, and hold
it before the orang's face; when the latter had taken a piece of the
bread, the chimpanzee withdrew the plate, held it for a moment, and
dropped it. Meanwhile he kept his eyes fixed on the orang. The manner
in which he dropped the plate looked as if he did so in contempt. When
the meal was finished, the kulu would drink his milk from a cup, wipe
his mouth with the serviette, and then get down from the table. The
orang would slowly climb down, and go back to his cage. We shall not
describe the details of their home-life, but they were two jolly young
bachelors, one of which was as stupid as the other was bright.
The specimens that were kept in the Gardens in New York were very
fine. One of them was mentally equal to any other specimen hitherto in
captivity. There were two kept in the Cincinnati Gardens which were
also very fine. There have never been but nine of these apes brought to
America so far as I am aware, but six of these lived longer and four of
them grew to be larger than any other specimens of this race have ever
done in captivity. For some reason they never survive long in England,
or other parts of Europe. This is probably due to some condition of the
atmosphere. It cannot be from a difference of treatment.
I have seen a large number of chimpanzees, but most of them were in
captivity, yet I have seen enough of them in a wild state to gain some
idea of their habits and manner, but those described will be sufficient
to show the mental character of the genus.