The little brute, though very diminntive, and the
merest ha\)y in age, was astonishingly strong, anil by no
means good tempered. They found they c(:)uld not lead
him. lie constantly rushed at them, showhig light, and
manifesting a strong desire to take a piece, or several
pieces, out of every one of their legs, wliich were his spe-
cial objects of attack. So they Avere obliged to get a
forked stick, in which his neck was inserted in such a
way that he could not escape, and yet could be kept at a
safe distance. It must have been very uncomfortable for
him, but it was the onlj' way of securing themselves
against liis nails and teeth, and thus he was brought to
Washington.
The excitement in the village was intense as the ani-
mal was lifted out of the canoe in wliich he had come
down the river. He roared and l^ellowed, and looked
around wildly, with his wicked little eyes, giving fair
warning that if he could get at any of us he Avould take
his revenge. Of course, no one came in liis way.
I saw that the stick hurt his neck, and immediately set
about having a cage made for him. In two hours we
had built a strong bamboo house, with the slats securely



196 STORIES OF THE GORILLA COUNTRY.
tied at such a distance apart that we could see the goril-
la, and it could see out. We made it as strong as we
could, and I was very careful to provide against every
chance of his escaping. In this cage he was immediately
deposited; and now, for the first time, I had a fair chance
to look at my prize.
