50 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



The Orang cannot put its feet flat on the ground, but 

 is supported upon their outer edges, the heel resting more 

 on the ground, while the curved toes partly rest upon the 

 ground by the upper side of their first joint, the two out- 

 ermost toes of each foot completely resting on this surface. 

 The hands are held in the opposite manner, their inner 

 edges serving as the chief support. The fingers are then 

 bent out in such a manner that their foremost joints, es- 

 pecially those of the two innermost fingers, rest upon the 

 ground by their upper sides, while the point of the free 

 and straight thumb serves as an aditional fulcrum. 



The Orang never stands on its hind legs, and all the 

 pictures, representing it as so doing, are as false as the 

 assertion that it defends itself with sticks, and the like. 



The long arms are of especial use, not only in climb- 

 ing, but in the gathering of food from boughs to which 

 the animal could not trust his weight. Figs, blossoms, 

 and young leaves of various kinds, constitute the chief nu- 

 triment of the Orang ; but strips of bamboo two or three 

 feet long were found in the stomach of a male. They are 

 not known to eat living animals. 



Although, when taken young, the Orang-Utan soon 

 becomes domesticated, and indeed seems to court human 

 society, it is naturally a very wild and shy animal, though 

 apparently sluggish and melancholy. The Dyaks affirm, 

 that when the old males are wounded with arrows only, 

 they will occasionally leave the trees and rush raging 

 upon their enemies, whose sole safety lies in instant flight, 

 as they are sure to be killed if caught.* 



* Sir James Brooke, in a letter to Mr. Waterhouse, published in the pro- 

 ceedings of the Zoological Society for 1841, says: — "On the habits of the 

 Orangs, as far as I have been able to observe them, I may remark that they 

 are as dull and slothful as can well be conceived, and on no occasion, when 

 pursuing them, did they move so fast as to preclude my keeping pace with 



