NATURAL HISTORY. 15 



suers and escaped. When they wish to catch an adult, they 

 cut down a circle of trees round the one on which he is seated, 

 and then fell that also, and close before he can recover him- 

 self, and endeavour to bind him. 



" The rude hut which they are stated to build in the trees 

 would be more properly called a seat, or nest, for it has no 

 roof or cover of any sort. The facility with which they form 

 this seat is curious ; and I had an opportunity of seeing a 

 wounded female weave the branches together, and seat her- 

 self in a minute. She afterwards received our fire without 

 moving, and expired in her lofty abode, whence it cost us 

 much trouble to dislodge her. 



" The pappan is justly named Satyrus, from the ugly face 

 and disgusting callosities. The adult male I killed was seated 

 lazily on a tree ; and when approached only took the trouble 

 to interpose the trunk between us, peeping at me, and dodg- 

 ing as I dodged. I hit him on the wrist, and he was after- 

 wards dispatched. I send you his proportions, enormous 

 relative to his height ; and until I came to actual measure- 

 ment my impression was that he was nearly six feet in 

 stature. 



" The great difference between the kassar and the pappan 

 in size would prove at once the distinction of the two species ; 

 the kassar being a small slight animal, by no means for- 

 midable in his appearance, with hands and feet proportioned 

 to the body, and they do not approach the gigantic extremi- 

 ties of the pappan either in size or power ; and, in short, a 

 moderately strong man would readily overpower one, when he 

 would not stand a shadow of a chance with the pappan." 



When young the Orang-outan is very docile, and has been 

 taught to make its own bed, and to handle a cup and saucer, 

 or a spoon, with tolerable propriety. For the former occu- 

 pation it proved itself particularly apt, as it not only laid its 

 own bed-clothes smooth and comfortable, but exhibited much 

 ingenuity in stealing blankets from other beds, which it added 

 to its own. The young Orang in the collection of the Zoolo- 

 gical Society evinced extreme horror at the sight of a small 

 tortoise, and, when the reptile was introduced into its den, 

 stood aghast in a most ludicrously terrified attitude, with its 

 eyes intently fixed on the frightful object. 



