Mr Grant's account of an Orang-Outang from Borneo. 11 



ever, was far from contented, and thought himself not well 

 used in being so stinted. Accordingly, as the woman repeatedly 

 passed near him* he solicited with all the mute eloquence in 

 his power for more tea. Some cold water was put into his 

 saucer, but he was not to be so imposed upon ; he poured it 

 angrily* out on the floor, (taking care, however, not to break 

 the saucer,) whined in a peculiar manner, and threw himself 

 passionately on his back on the ground, striking his breast and 

 paunch with his palms, and giving a kind of reiterated croalc. 

 This action he repeated several times, giving himself very heavy 

 falls on the back of his head and spine, striking against the floor 

 with a violence which could not have failed, I should suppose, 

 to hurt a human being, but which appeared to give him no pain 

 whatever. / 



His restlessness rendered it difficult to take exact measure- 

 ments of him. He appeared suspicious of such movements 

 as he could not comprehend, being seemingly afraid that some 

 injury might be inflicted upon him. Thus, when I wanted 

 to take measurements of his head and body, he held the for- 

 mer down firmly, and crouched himself up into a ball. The 

 poor fellow felt really afraid that some violence was going to 

 be done him, and seized hold repeatedly of the tape with 

 which I was measuring him. This he would retain in his 

 hand until forcibly deprived of it ; but when he became a 

 little more familiar with me, he regained his self-possession, 

 and permitted me to make my examinations with less trouble. 



Dr Abel has so accurately described the walk of the Bor- 

 nese orang-outang, that it would be superfluous to dwell upon 

 it here. His movements in the erect position are awkward, 

 waddling, and unsteady. When released from his chain, he 

 immediately makes for the house, and attempts to get up 

 stairs to the room, where he is occasionally allowed to partake 

 of his master's breakfast. He moves, as has been accurately 

 described, by using both hands and feet, doubling his long 

 fingers, and resting on his wrists. Sometimes he throws his 

 weight on his hands, and then swings his feet forward to- 

 gether. At other times he has a waddling gait, when using 



* It is not so much anger against others as vexation and despair. On 

 such occasions of disappointment he rolls about like a passionate child. 



