THE ORANG-OUTAN. 23 



can be protruded until they assume an almost snout-like aspect ; they can be moulded into 

 the strangest forms ; they can be withdrawn, and almost obliterated from the countenance, 

 when the creature extends its mouth into the grin of anger, exhibiting its sharp teeth, and 

 uttering its furious cries. There are in the face of the ape none of those delicate lines that 

 render the human countenance an index of the mind within ; and, therefore, the animal makes 

 the most of the limited means which it possesses. Articulate voice it has none, although it 

 can be taught to comprehend the commands of its instructor ; but it is a proficient in natural 

 language of action, and by gesture can make itself understood without difficulty. 



Though the language of the ape be not articulate, according to our ideas, yet in their wild 

 state the Chimpanzees can talk well enough for their own purposes. One proof of this, is the 

 acknowledged fact that they can confer with one another sufficiently to act in unison, at the 

 same time and place, and with a given object. 



Strong and daring as they are, they do not appear to seek a contest with human beings, 

 but do their best to keep quietly out of the way. Like most animals that herd together, even 

 in limited numbers, the Chimpanzees have ever a watchful sentinel posted on the look-out, 

 whose duty it is to guard against the insidious approach of foes, and to give warning if he 

 sees, hears, or smells, anything of a suspicious character. 



Should the sentinel ape perceive a sign of danger, he sets up a loud cry, which has been 

 likened to the anguished scream of a man in sore distress. The other apes know well enough 

 the meaning of that cry, and signify their comprehension by answering cries. If the danger 

 continues to threaten, then the ape-conversation becomes loud, shrill, and hoarse, and the air 

 is filled with the various notes of the simian language, perfectly understood by themselves, 

 although to human ears it consists of nothing but discordant yells and barks. 



The arms of this animal, of the gorilla, and the orang-outan, are of considerably greater 

 length than might be inferred from the height of the animal. When these creatures aid their 

 steps by placing the hands on the ground, they have the curious habit of resting the knuckles 

 on the ground, instead of the palms of the hands, as might have been supposed. From this 

 peculiarity, the three apes have received the appropriate title of "knuckle-walkers." 



The head of the Chimpanzee is remarkable for the large development of the ears, which 

 stand prominently from the sides of the head, and give a curiously peculiar expression to the 

 contour .of the head and face. 



We should probably have seen many more specimens of this ape imported into this country, 

 had not the superstitious fears of the natives kept them aloof from meddling with these ani- 

 mals. Probably on account of the weird resemblance to the human form, which is one charac- 

 teristic of their race, or on account of their cunning, the inhabitants of the Gaboon and the 

 neighborhood labor under the dread of being bewitched by the Chimpanzees, and so very 

 prudently let them alone. Certainly, they would be "no canny" to deal with, and the dis- 

 cretion exercised is not to be blamed. 



THE ORANG-OUTAN. 



THE title of Satyrus, or Satyr, is very rightly applied to the huge ape which is known by 

 the name of ORANG-OUTAN. 



For, saving that the long-eared Satyrs of the classic authors were more intellectual in 

 countenance, and usually wore hoofs instead of hands at the extremities of the lower limbs, 

 there is no small resemblance between the veritable and the imaginary wild man of the woods. 



The Orang-outan is a native of Asia, and only to be found upon a small portion of that 

 part of the globe. Borneo and Sumatra are the lands most favored by the Orang-outan, which 

 inhabits the woody districts of those islands, and there rules supreme, unless attacked by man. 



There seem to be at least two species of this animal, that are found in Borneo, and some 

 zoologists consider the Sumatran ape to be a third species. 



The natives distinguish the two Bornean species by the name of Mias-kassar, and Mias- 

 pappan, the latter of which animals is the Simla satyrus, so well represented in the engraving. 



