12 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



apprized the baker, who, relying with perfect confidence 

 upon her information, carried his dough to the oven as soon 

 as the chimpanzee came to fetch him. This animal performed 

 all the business of a sailor, spliced ropes, handled the sails, 

 and assisted at unfurling them ; and she was, in fact considered 

 by the sailors as one of themselves. The vessel was bound 

 for America; but the poor animal did not live to see that 

 country, having fallen a victim to the brutality of the first 

 mate, who inflicted very cruel chastisement upon her, which 

 she had not deserved. She endured it with the greatest 

 patience, only holding out her hands in a suppliant attitude, 

 in order to break the force of the blows she received. But 

 from that moment she steadily refused to take any food, 

 and died on the fifth day from grief and hunger. She was 

 lamented by every person on board, not insensible to the 

 feelings of humanity, who knew the circumstances of her 

 fate." 



The The orang-utan is one of the largest of the 



Orang-utan. a p e species and until the discovery of the 

 gorilla was supposed to be the largest. It is said sometimes 

 to attain to the height of six feet, and some travellers' tales 

 credit it with even greater height. The orang is possessed 

 of great strength but is of a docile disposition when brought 

 under civilisation, and even in a wild state is often quiet 

 and peaceable except when attacked. It inhabits country 

 that is low, level, and swampy, and that is at the same 

 time covered with lofty virgin forests. It belongs to the 

 genus Simia of which it is the single species. 



The Habits The following account of the orang is given 

 of the by Mr. Brooke of Sarawak. "On the habits of 



Orang-utan. tne Qj-^g^ as f ar as j h ave been able to observe 



them, I may remark that they are as dull and as slothful 

 as can well be conceived, and on no occasion, when 

 pursuing them, did they move so fast as to preclude my 

 keeping pace with them easily through a moderately clear 



