214 Dr. C. Abel on the Sumatran^Ot-ang Outang. 



catec], niul of tlie circumstances that attended his capture, as 

 the}' liave been collected from the persons who took him, and 

 conclude with a description of such parts of liis body as are 

 preserved in the museum of the Asiatic Society. 



Capture of the animal. 

 The following short history of the circumstances under 

 which the animal was found, and of the mode of taking him, 

 is drawn up from accounts which were furnished to me either 

 directly or indirectly by persons concerned in his capture. 

 A boat party under the command of Messrs. Craygyman 

 and Fish, officers of the brig Mary Anne Sophia having 

 landed to procure water at a place called Ramboom near 

 Touraman, on the N.W. coast of Sumatra, on a spot where 

 there was much cultivated ground and but few trees, disco- 

 vered on one of these a gigantic animal of the monkey tribe. 

 On the approach of the party he came to the ground, and when 

 pursued sought refuge in another tree at some distance, ex- 

 hibiting as he moved, the appearance of a tall man-like figure 

 covered with shining brown hair, walking erect with a wad- 

 dling gait, but sometimes accelerating his motion with his 

 bands, and occasionally impelling himself forward with the 

 bough of a tree. His motion on the ground was plainly not 

 his natural mode of progression, for even when assisted by 

 his hands or a stick, it was slow and vacillating : it was neces- 

 sary to see him amongst trees in order to estimate his agi- 

 lity and strength. On being driven to a small clump, he gained 

 by one spi'ing a very lofty branch, and bounded from one 

 branch to another with the ease and alacrity of a common 

 monkey. Had the country been covered with wood, it would 

 have been almost impossible to prevent his escape, as his mode 

 of travelling from one tree to another is described to be as 

 rapid as the jirogress of a swift horse. Even amidst the few 

 trees tliat were on the spot, his movements were so quick that 

 it was very difficult to obtain a settled aim ; and it was only by 

 cutting down one tree after another, that his pursuers by con- 

 fining him within a very limited range, were enabled to destroy 

 him by several successive shots, some of which penetrated his 

 body and wounded his viscera. Having received five balls, 

 his exertions relaxed, and reclining exhausted on one of the 

 branches of a tree, he vomited a considerable quantity of 

 blood. The aninmnition of the hunters being by this time 

 expended, they were obliged to fell the tree in order to obtain 

 liim, and did tliis in full confidence that his power was so far 

 gone that they could secure him without trouble, but were 

 astonished as the tree was fiilling to see him eft'ect his retreat 



to 



