;, m- Ungka Ape qfSimatra^k 137 



the grasp by swinging away ; or he would drop suddenly on 

 her from the ropes aloft, and then engage in various playful 

 antics. He would play in a similar manner with adults, but 

 always seemed to have a preference for children. If an attempt 

 was, however, made by the child to play with him when he 

 had no inclination, or after he had sustained some disappoint- 

 ment, he usually made a slight impression with his teeth on 

 her arm, just sufficient to act as a warning that no liberties 

 were to be taken with his person ; or as the child would say, 

 *' Ungka no like play now." Not unfrequently, a string being 

 tied to his leg, the child would amuse herself by dragging the 

 patient animal about the deck ; tired, however, of such prac- 

 tical jokes, without having himself any share in the fun, he 

 endeavoured to disengage himself and retire : on finding his 

 efforts fruitless, he would quietly walk up to the child, make an 

 impression with his teeth on one of the members that were the 

 nearest, soon terminate the sport, and procure his liberty. 



There were also on board the ship several small monkeys, 

 with whom Ungka was desirous of forming interesting " con- 

 versaziones," to introduce a social character among them, to 

 while away the tedious hours, and to dissipate the monotony of 

 the voyage; but to this the monkeys would not accede, and they 

 all cordially united to repel the approaches of the " little man 

 in black," by chattering, and sundry other hostile movements 

 peculiar to their race. Ungka, thus repelled in his endea- 

 vours to establish a social intercourse, determined to punish 

 them for their impudence: when they again united to repel 

 him, by chattering and divers other impudent tricks, he 

 seized a rope, and, swinging towards the nearest, seized his 

 " caudal appendage," and hauled away upon it, until the agi- 

 lity of the monkey obliged him to relinquish his hold. But it 

 not unfrequently happened that he made his way up the rigging, 

 dragging the monkey by the tail after him, and if he required 

 both hands to expedite his ascent, the tail of his captive would 

 be passed into the prehensile power of his foot. These ludi- 

 crous scenes were performed by Ungka with the most perfect 

 gravity of countenance ; having no caudal extremity himself, 

 he knew that he was free from any retaliation. As this treat- 

 ment was far from being amusing to the monkeys, they after- 

 wards either avoided him, or made so formidable a defence 

 on his approach, that Ungka was obliged to refrain from in- 

 dulging himself in " tale-hearing,^^ He had, however, such 

 an inclination to draix) out tails^ that, being obliged from 

 "peculiar circumstances" to relinquish those of the monkeys, 

 he cultivated the friendship of a little pig that ran about the 

 deck, and, taking his tail in his hand, endeavoured, by fre- 



