Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — Musical Chimpanzees. [ARTICLE]

Musical Chimpanzees.

Writing in the London Graphic, Sir Harry Johnston, K. C. 8., has much to say about strange monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons found by him in the Uganda Protectorate. His special pet is Miss Eleanor Maltravers. Eleanor is almost human. The natives told the explorer a great deal about the chimpanzee’s habits, such as its building “houses” (shelters) in the trees. They said that it is the male chimpanzee’s habit to sleep with his back to the tree trunk. The natives of Toro repeat the assertions of Emln Pasha to the effect that the chimpanzees are rather fond of beating with their hands hollow tree trunks which they find in the forest, and of shouting in accompaniment to this primitive music. The chimpanzees are certainly very noisy when they believe themselves to be unobserved.