THE OURANG OUTANG. 167 



that it had thirteen, instead of twelve ribs. In its passage to 

 England, it had made many friends on board, towards whom it 

 would show evident marks of tenderness, and used frequently to 

 embrace them with the greatest affection. Monkeys of a lower 

 species, it seemed to hold in absolute aversion, and would avoid 

 that part of the vessel where they were confined. As soon as it 

 was accustomed to the use of clothes, it became very fond of 

 them, and would dress itself in part without any assistance, and 

 carry the remainder to some of its friends, and make signs for 

 them to complete the ornament. It would lie in a bed, place its 

 head upon the pillow, and then pull up the bed-clothes to its 

 neck, in the same manner as human beings are accustomed 

 to do." 



M. de Buffon says, that he saw one of these singular animals 

 sit at table ; wipe its mouth with a napkin after drinking ; pour 

 the wine into its glass ; use a fork and spoon to carry the victuals 

 to its mouth ; put sugar into its cup ; pour out the tea, and leave 

 it to cool ; and, in short, so exactly imitate human actions, that 

 it was astonishing to see how completely instinctive sagacity was, 

 in this creature, substituted for reason. 



From these anecdotes, it appears that the ourang outang, at 

 least the less and milder kind, may, when taken young, be easily 

 tamed, and rendered extremely docile and tractable ; but a very 

 different picture is exhibited by travellers, of those which are 

 found in the immense solitudes of Africa, as well as in some 

 parts of the East, and especially in Borneo. They are not only 

 exceedingly swift, but so strong, that one of them could over- 

 come several men. It is therefore impossible to take them alive, 

 especially as they generally go in companies, armed with thick 

 clubs, with which they will not hesitate to attack the strongest 

 and fiercest animals, not excepting even the elephant. And it is 

 worthy of remark, that this is the only animal that makes use of 

 any other weapons than such as are natural. In the island of 

 Borneo, where the ourang outang chiefly abounds, it is hunted 

 by the inhabitants in the same manner as the lion and the ele- 

 phant ; and even the king and his courtiers follow the chase of 

 this animal, with great eagerness ; for, although its resemblance 

 to the human form might be supposed to procure it pity and pro- 

 tection, we shall scarcely wonder that it should not meet with 

 either, when we consider the fierceness of its disposition, and its 

 formidable hostility to man. 



This singular animal has been described by several naturalists 

 and travellers, particularly by Battel, Bosnian, Schouten, M. La 

 Brosse, M. Grose, and Pyrard. Their descriptions are all inter- 

 esting, but too long for insertion, especially as our design is 

 i ather to give that general knowledge of Nature, which everv 



