THE MAN-LIKE APES. 51 



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 occasion- 

 ally seizes him on his visits to the water side. But they 



them easily through a moderately clear forest ; and even when obstructions 

 below (such as wading up to the neck) allowed them to get away some dis- 

 tance, they were sure to stop and allow me to come up. I never observed 

 the slightest attempt at defence, and the wood which sometimes rattled about 

 our ears was broken by their weight, and not thrown, as some persons repre- 

 sent. If pushed to extremity, however, the Pappan could not be otherwise 

 than formidable, and one unfortunate man, who, with a party, was trying to 

 catch a large one alive, lost two of his fingers, besides being severely bitten 

 on the face, whilst the animal finally beat off his pursuers and escaped." 



Mr. Wallace, on the other hand, affirms that he has several times observed 

 them throwing down branches when pursued. " It is true he does not throw 

 them at a person, but casts them down vertically ; for it is evident that a 

 bough cannot be thrown to any distance from the top of a lofty tree. In one 

 case a female Mias, on a durian tree, kept up for at least ten minutes a con- 

 tinuous shower of branches and of the heavy, spined fruits, as large as 32- 

 pounders, which most effectually kept us clear of the tree she was on. She 

 could be seen breaking them off and throwing them down with every appear- 

 ance of rage, uttering at intervals a loud pumping grunt, and evidently mean- 

 ing mischief."—" On the habits of the Orang-Utan," Annals of Nat. History. 

 1856. This statement, it will be observed, is quite in accordance with that 

 contained in the letter of the Resident Palm quoted above (p. 16). 



