THE ORANG-OUTAN. 29 
This singular emotion is worthy of notice, because it proves the fallacy of judging 
any animal to be the natural enemy of another, merely because the latter is terrified 
at its approach. Granting that the apes might occasionally have been prompted by their 
mischievous nature to meddle with the turtles, and to have been half-blinded by a sand- 
shower thrown from the turtle’s flippers, or have suffered a painful wound from the snap 
of a turtle’s sharp jaws, yet the little land-tortoise could not do damage. As we have just 
mentioned, even the presence of a poor garden-snail is a terror to many members of the 
monkey race. 
It is therefore evident that the antipathy does not exist only in some individuals 
which may have suffered by the reptiles, but that it is the common propensity of these 
strange animals. We can easily understand that an ape should display an agony of 
terror at the sight of a leopard, or a snake, for the one has teeth and claws, being 
also very fond of ape-flesh, and the other has fangs. But that the same animal should 
be just as frightened when it sees a turtle, a tortoise, or a man bathing, is indeed 
remarkable. 
Our best insight into the habits of animals is generally gained by watching the 
actions of a single individual, and these biographies are usually found to be most 
interesting. An admirable description has been given by Dr. Abel of the young Orang- 
outan, which has been already mentioned. 
At first the ape was put into a cage, but he broke the bars and got out. Then 
he was chained, but he detached the chain from the staple, and finding that the heavy 
links incommoded him, he coiled the chain round his shoulder, and to prevent it from 
slipping, held the end in his mouth. As he always succeeded in escaping from his 
bonds, his keepers made a virtue of necessity, and permitted him to enjoy the full 
range of the vessel. Among the ropes he was quite at home, and, trusting to his superior 
activity, was accustomed to take liberties with the sailors, and then escape among the 
ropes. One very curious trait in his character must be given in the words of the 
narrator. 
“ Although so gentle when not exceedingly irritated, the Orang-outan could be 
excited to violent rage, which he expressed by opening his mouth, showing his teeth, 
and seizing and biting those who were near him. 
“ Sometimes, indeed, he seemed almost driven to desperation ; and on two or three 
occasions committed an act which in a rational being would have been called the 
threatening of suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange when he attempted to take 
it, he would shriek violently and swing furiously about the ropes, then return and 
endeavour to obtain it. If again refused, he would roll for some time like an angry 
child upon the deck, uttering the most piercing screams; and then, suddenly starting 
up, rush furiously over the side of the ship and disappear. 
“ On first witnessing this act, we thought that he had thrown himself into the sea ; 
but on a search being made, found him concealed under the chains.” 
He learned artificial tastes of civilization, and preferred tea and coffee to water. 
Tastes less natural and more to be regretted soon followed, for he took to drinking 
wine, and was so fond of spirituous liquids, that he was detected in stealing the captain’s 
brandy-bottle. This interesting animal survived the English climate for about eighteen 
months, and then succumbed to the usual foe of the monkey race. The fatal issue 
of the disease was probably promoted by the shedding of his teeth. 
In its native woods, the Orang-outan seems to be an unsocial animal, delighting 
not in those noisy conversaziones which rejoice the hearts of the gregarious monkeys 
and deafen the ears of their neighbours. It does not even unite in little bands of 
eight or ten as do many species, but leads a comparatively eremitical existence among 
the trees, sitting in dreamy indolence on the platform which it weaves, and averse 
to moving unless impelled by hunger, anger, or some motive equally powerful. When 
it does move, it passes with much rapidity from tree to tree, or from one branch to 
another by means of its long limbs, and launches itself through a considerable 
distance, if the space between the branches be too great for its reach of arm. 
It has already been mentioned that the adult Orang is a sullen and ferocious animal, 
