54- THE MAN-LIKE APES. i 



But, though possessed of immense strength, it 

 is rare for the Orang to attempt to defend itself, 

 especially when attacked with fire-arms. On such 

 occasions he endeavours to hide himself, or to 

 escape along the topmost branches of the trees, 

 breaking off and throwing down the boughs as he 

 goes. When wounded he betakes himself to the 

 highest attainable point of the tree, and emits 

 a singular cry, consisting at first of high notes, 

 which at length deepen into a low roar, not unlike 

 that of a panther. While giving out the high 

 notes the Orang thrusts out his lips into a funnel 

 shape; but in uttering the low notes he holds his 

 mouth wide open, and at the same time the great 

 throat bag, or laryngeal sac, becomes distended. 



According to the Dyaks, the only animal the 

 Orang measures his strength with is the crocodile, 

 who occasionally seizes him on his visits to the 

 water side. But they say that the Orang is more 

 than a match for his enemy, and beats him to 

 death, or rips up his throat by pulling the jaws 

 asunder! 



Much of what has been. here staled was proba- 

 bly derived by Dr. Miiller from the reports of his 

 Dyak hunters; but a large male, four feet high, 

 lived in captivity, under his observation, for a 

 month, and receives a very bad character. 



Oranrr-rtnn." Annuls of Natural History. 1856. This 

 statement, it will lie observed, is quit o in accordance with 

 that contained in the letter of the Resident Palm quoted 

 above (p. 23). 



