Descriplion of an Our an g Oiiiang. 195 



state of liberty, he was accustomed in tine weather to visit 

 a garden, where he could take exercise in the open air by 

 ascending and sitting among tiie trees. One dav that it 

 was perched on a tree, a person approaclicd it as if with an 

 intention to catch it; but the aniniil instantly laid hold of 

 the adjoining branches and shook them with all its force, as 

 if it was his intention to frigliien the person who attempted 

 to ascend, by suggestina the risk of his falling. This ex- 

 periment was repeatedly made with the same results. 



In whatever way we regard the above action, it must be 

 impossible for us lo overlook the result of a combination of 

 acute intelligence, or to deny to the animal the faculty of 

 generalizing. Our ourang outang, by an experiment which 

 the wantonness of the sadors had frequently made on it, 

 perceived that the violent agitation of bodies, which sup- 

 port men or animals, makes them lose their equilibrium, and 

 fall; and it reflected that, when placed in analogous circum- 

 stances, others would experience what it had experienced 

 itself, and that the fear of falling would hinder them fri)m 

 ascending. It extended, therefore, to beings who were 

 strangers to it, an idea which was personal to itself: and 

 from a particular circuiTistance it formed a general rule. 



It was frequently fatigued with the numerous visits which 

 it received, and would hide itself under its coverlid ; but it 

 never did this except when strangers were present. 



Mv observations on the intellectual means resorted to by 

 ourantj outanns for their defence, are confined to these facts 

 alone; but they are sufficient, in my opinion, to prove that 

 these animals are able to make up bv the resources of intel« 

 lect for their feeble corporeal organization. 



On the intellectual Vhcenoinena tvliich have for their Olject 

 to procure for the Animal such Things as are necessary 

 for its Subsistence. 



The natural wants of the ourang outangs are so easily sa- 

 tisfied, that these animals uui?.t rind in their organization 

 enough of resources, not to compel them to a sreat exertion 

 of their intellectual faculties in this respect. Fruits are 

 their principal food, and, as we havealread\ seen, their limbs 

 are peculiarly adapted for ascending trees. It is probable, 

 therefore, that, in their state ot nature, these anin)als em- 

 plov their intelligence much oftener to preserve themselves 

 from harm than to procure food. But all their tiabits must 

 change, the instant ihevare in the socictv or under the pro- 

 tection of men: their dangers must be diminished, and 

 their wants increased. This is evinced by all the domestio 

 N 2 animalsj 



