THE ORANG-OUTAN. 27 
There seem to be at least two species of this animal, that are found in Borneo, and 
some zoologists consider the Sumatran ape to be a third species. 
The natives distinguish the two Bornean species by the name of Mias-kassar, and 
Mias-pappan, the latter of which animals is the Simia satyrus, so well represented in the 
engraving. 
The Pappan i is a truly terrible animal when roused to anger, and would be even more 
formidable than is the case, were it endowed with a less slothful disposition. Its length 
of arm is very great ; for when the animal stands erect, and permits the arms to hang by 
its sides, its hands can nearly touch the ground. The muscular power of these arms is 
proportionate to their length, and it is chiefly by means of the upper limbs that the ape 
makes progress among the boughs of the trees on which it loves to live. 
So powerful, indeed, are the arms, that a female Orang has been known to snap a 
strong spear like a reed, and this after she had been weakened by many wounds and loss 
of blood. In attack the Orang-outan is not sparing of teeth as well as hands ; and uses 
to the utmost the weapons with which it has been endowed. The teeth of an adult 
Orang are truly formidable weapons, and it is said that even the leopard cares not to 
prove their power. So strong are even the front teeth, that they are capable of gnawing 
through and tearing away the dense fibrous covering in which the cocoa-nut is enveloped, 
and possibly can cut through the hard shell itself, Besides these teeth, the Orang 
is furnished with enormous canines, or tusks, the ohject of which is probably to act as 
offensive weapons ; for the Orang is a vegetable-feeding animal, and the canine teeth 
can hardly be eiven merely for the purpose of cutting vegetable food. 
Although the hind limbs are not so largely developed as the arms, yet they 
possess 2 oreat power, and are perfectly adapted to the purpose which they serve, For 
terrestrial locomotion they are anything but fitted, as the animal is unable to plant the sole, 
or rather the palm, flat upon the ground, and rests upon the outside edges of the feet. 
The walk of the Orang-outan is little better than an awkward hobble, and the 
creature shuftles along uneasily by help of its arms. The hands are placed on the ground, 
and are used as crutches in aid of the feet, which are often raised entirely from the 
ground, and the body swung through the arms. Sometimes it bends considerably 
backwards, and throwing its long arms over its head, preserves its equilibrium by 
their means. 
This attitude is caused by the peculiar structure of the hind limbs, which, besides 
their comparative shortness, are only loosely jointed to the hip-bones. The Orang-outan 
is destitute of the short, but very strong ligament, that binds the thigh-bone to the hip- 
joimt, and which is called the ligamentum teres. This ligament is very powerful in 
man, and plays an important part in giving him that steady tread, which alone is 
sufficient to distinguish the human species from the apes. 
But the Orang- outan is intended for an arboreal life, and requires limbs that can 
adapt themselves to the boughs. Therefore the legs are so twisted inwards, that the feet 
can grasp the branches freely, and hold the body in its position, while the long arms are 
stretched out to take a fresh hold. 
Among the trees the Orang-outan is in its element, and traverses the boughs with 
an ease and freedom that contrasts strongly with its awkward movements when on the 
ground. It has a curious habit of making for itself a temporary resting-place, by 
weaving together the branches so as to make a rude platform or scaffold on which it 
reposes. The powerful limbs of the animal enable it to execute this task in a very short 
time. Rajah Brooke of Sarawak narrates an interesting tale of a female Orang-outan, 
which when severely wounded ceased her attempts to. escape, and weaving together 
a branch-platform, seated herself upon it, and quietly awaited her end. The poor animal 
received several more shots before she expired, and as she fell dead upon her extemporary 
edifice, the hunters were put to some trouble before they could dislodge the dead body. 
The whole process of weaving the branches and seating herself did not occupy more than 
a minute. 
When the hunters desire to capture an adult Orang-outan, they hem him in by felling 
the trees around that on which he is seated, and so deprive him of the means of escape. 
