136 Account of the Siinia synddctijla^ 



given to him ; and would readily come to those to whom he 

 was attached when called by that name. His temper was mild, 

 and not readily irritated ; his mildness of disposition and play- 

 fulness of manner made him a universal favourite with all 

 on board. 



When he walks in the erect posture, he turns the leg and 

 foot outwards, which occasions him to have a waddling gait 

 and a bow-legged appearance. He would walk the deck, 

 being held by his long arm, and then had a resemblance to a 

 child just learning to walk. He has an awkward manner of 

 drinking, by which the liquid is much wasted : he first applies 

 his lips to the liquid, throwing the head up, which may in 

 some degree be attributed to the prominency of the lower jaw ; 

 and if the vessel in which the liquid is contained should be 

 shallow, he dips the paw into it, holds it over the mouth, let- 

 ting the liquid drop in. I never observed him lap with the 

 tongue when drinking ; but when tea or coffee was given to 

 him, the lingual organ was carefully protruded for the purpose 

 of ascertaining its temperature. 



He usually (on first coming on board), after taking exercise 

 about the rigging, retired to rest at sunset, in the maintop, 

 coming on deck at daylight. This continued until our arrival 

 off the Cape, when, experiencing a lower temperature, he 

 expressed an eager desire to be taken in my arms, and in- 

 dulged by being permitted to pass the night in my cabin, for 

 which he evinced such a decided partiality, that on the return 

 of warm weather he would not retire to the maintop, but was 

 always eager to pass the night in the cabin. 



He was playful, but preferred children to adults ; he be- 

 came particularly attached to a little Papuan child (Elau, a 

 native of Erromanga, one of the New Hebrides group) who 

 was on board, and who, it is not improbable, he may have in 

 some degree considered as having an affinity to his species. 

 They were often seen sitting near the capstan, the animal 

 with its long paw around her neck, lovingly eating biscuit 

 together. She would lead him about by his long arms ; and 

 it was very amusing to see him running round the capstan 

 pursued by or pursuing the child ; he would waddle along at 

 a rapid pace, sometimes aiding himself by his knuckles ; but, 

 when fatigued, would spring aside, seize a rope, and ascend 

 a short distance, safe from pursuit. In a playful manner he 

 would roll on deck with the child, displaying a mock combat, 

 pushing with his feet (in which action he seems to possess 

 great muscular power), entwining his arms around her, and 

 pretending to bite ; or, seizing a rope, he would swing towards 

 her, and, when efforts were made to seize him, would elude 



