Signing and Swinging
Another difference between Mildin and Tarzan is that unlike Tarzan, Mildin never spoke to the apes. Rather he figured out some form of communication, which can be described as sign language. It sounds wild, but scientific studies, like the famous long-term experiment with Koko the Gorilla, prove that apes can be taught sign language.
Photo by Moviestore Collection / Shutterstock
Another similarity: they were both swingers. But while Tarzan was of the literal meaning, Mildin was more of the adult version of the word. He was a bit of a player before he returned to civilization. He wrote about marrying five local women and having four kids. His writings also reveal that his one barren wife was speared to death in a ritual – the tribe’s cruel custom to punish sterility.