LIFE IN CAPTIVITY. 20-5 



he reached the threshold ; then he got up, peered 

 cautiously round, and with one bound galloped o£, 

 so quickly that it was difficult to follow him. 



"He pursued his object with equal pertinacity 

 when he felt a desire for the sugar or fruit which 

 was kept in a cupboard in the eating-room ; he 

 would suddenly leave off playing and go in an 

 opposite direction, only altering his course when he 

 believed that he was no longer observed. He then 

 went straight to the room and cupboard, opened it, 

 and made a quick and dexterous snatch at the sugar- 

 box or fruit-basket, sometimes closing the cupboard 

 doors behind him before beginning to enjoy his 

 plunder, or, if he was discovered, he would escape 

 with it, and his whole behaviour made it clear that 

 he was conscious of transgressing into forbidden 

 paths. He took a special, and what might be called 

 a childish, pleasure in making a noise by beating on 

 hollow articles, and he seldom omitted an oppor- 

 tunity of drumming on casks, dishes, or tin trays, 

 whenever he passed by them — a noisy amusement to 

 which he was much addicted during our homeward 

 voyage on board the steam-vessel, in which he was 

 at liberty to roam about. He very much disliked 

 strange noises. Thunder, the rain falling on the 

 skylight, and especially the long-drawn note of a 

 pipe or trumpet threw him into such agitation as to 

 cause a sudden affection of the digestive organs, and 

 it became expedient to keep him at a distance. 

 When he was slightly indisposed, we made use of 

 this kind of music with results as successful as if we 

 had administered purgative medicine." 



