HABITS OF THE SIAMANG. 39 



But if they are on the ground, and they have not time to reach trees, 

 they are easily overtaken. The troop, however numerous, abandons 

 one of their members who is wounded unless the victim be a young 

 one ; then maternal love bids the mother fly to the protection of her 

 offspring, and with inflated air-sack and outstretched arms she faces the 

 enemy. Otherwise, too, this maternal instinct is touchingly evinced. 

 The mother bears her little one to the river, bathes it in spite of its 

 cries, and carefully rubs it dry. The Malays affirm that the male parent 

 carries the male young ones, while the mother bears the females, and 

 travelers assert that this report is true. 



One of these animals was for some time an mmate of a ship, where it 

 became quite companionable, and gained the affections of passengers and 

 crew. So far from exhibiting the sullen and sluggish demeanor which 

 has been attributed to this ape, the Siamang displayed great activity and 

 quickness, skipping about the ropes, and given to harmless tricks. It 

 took a fancy to a little Papuan girl who was on board, and would sit 

 with its arms round her neck, eating biscuit with her. It was of an 

 inquisitive nature, running up the rigging, and watching from its elevated 

 position a passing vessel, and remaining there until the ship was out 

 of sight. In temper it was rather uncertain, and apt to fly into a passion 

 if opposed in any wish. 



When thus e.xcited, it would fling itself down, just like a naughty, 

 spoiled child, roll about the deck with great contortion of limbs and face, 

 strike at everything which came in its way, and scream incessantly, with 

 a sound like " Ra! ra! ra!" 



It had a strange predilection for ink, and in order to procure this 

 remarkable dainty, would drain the ink-bottle whenever there was an 

 opportunity of so doing, or suck the pens in default of the liquid itself. 

 Being itself destitute of a tail, and feeling no fear of reprisals in that direc- 

 tion, the Siamang used to make very free with the tails of some monkeys 

 that lived on board of the same vessel. Catching an unfortunate monkey 

 by its caudal appendage, away went Ungka, as the ape was named, 

 dragging the monkey after him along the deck, until the wretched 

 animal writhed itself free from its tormentor. At another time, Ungka 

 would carry the monkey by the tail up the rigging, in spite of its squeaks 

 and struggles, and then quietly let it drop. 



It was sensitive to ridicule ; and when its feelings were hurt, it used 

 to inflate its throat until it resembled a huge wen, and looked seriously 



