Mr Grant's Account of an Orang Outangjrom Borneo. 7. 



sufficient length to admit of his moving a few yards in any di- 

 rection. He is very quick and noticing ; and, as far as his chain* 

 will allow him, usually steps forward to meet any person who 

 approaches him, holding out his hand, if a hand be offered to 

 him. Should his chain happen to get entangled or jammed be- 

 tween the box and any other article of furniture, he will un- 

 ravel its twistings with equal adroitness and patience, -f- 



He examines every thing that comes within his reach in the 

 most attentive manner with his hands, lips, and teeth. Though 

 when he observes a stranger he is generally in motion, and 

 evinces a lively curiosity, yet when alone he is quiet and seden- 

 tary. He is fond of human society, and likes to be in the com- 

 pany of Mr Swinton's bearers, whose house adjoins the shed 

 where his box is kept, and where he will often sit with a gra- 

 vity not unworthy of Diogenes in his tub. 



He likes to play with the bearers, and tries to throw them 

 down when they wrestle with him in a sitting posture, which 

 they do to bring themselves on a level with him. He seizes 

 them by the hair of the head, but never with any appearance 

 of a wish to tear it out. 



He has a tin jug, out of which he drinks, and which he likes 

 to scrub with a coarse towel, throwing the latter, after the con- 

 clusion of the operation, over his shoulders, as he has seen the 

 servants about the house do. He will sit down at table and 

 pick a bone, or drink a glass of wine. His usual and favourite 

 food is plantains and milk ; he is also extremely fond of tea. \ 



* He has since got a longer chain, and is perpetually clambering up every 

 thing within his reach, and swinging himself from it. But all this is done 

 with a sedate air. Another remarkable feature of his character is, that he 

 looks you quietly and steadily in the face with a melancholy expression of 

 countenance ; whereas the eyes of monkeys in general are seldom fixed on 

 the face of those who may be looking at them. — Note J. G. 



-f When on board ship, it was found very difficult to keep him fast, as 

 he undid every knot that could be tied. He used to look on attentively 

 during the operation of tying it, and set himself loose with his fingers and 

 teeth immediately ; and it was only by making fast the yarns of the rope, 

 as in the operation of splicing, that it was possible to puzzle him. — Noteby 

 Mr M. 



X The young female which was in my possession, in addition to fruit, 

 was accustomed to have every day a dish of curry and rice, made either of 

 fish or fowl, which she seemed to relish eating with her hand, and after- 



