HUNTING THE OURANG OUTANG. 151 



as it is in the carnivorous tribe, and the zygomatic arch is widely 

 expanded ; nor are these the only points of resemblance. In the 

 Hoolock and in the Chimpanzee the skull is comparatively smooth 

 and human on its outward surface. 



Sun atra and Borneo are the principal localities where the 

 Jurang Outang has been hitherto found ; and those which have been 

 brought to Europe have exhibited a considerable degree of intelli- 

 gence, though, as far as our experience and information go, not 

 so high a degree as is manifested by the Chimpanzee. An Ourang 

 Outang, brought to England by Captain Methuen, made no attempt 

 to escape when suffered to be at large before he was shipped, but 

 became violent when incarcerated in a bamboo cage. He at first 

 shook the rails violently, but, finding that they did not yield to his 

 efforts, he tried them separately, pitched upon the weakest, and 

 perseveringly worked at it till he broke it and regained his liberty. 

 Then they tried to confine him by a chain fastened to a strong 

 staple ; he soon unfastened it, and ran off". Finding the incum- 

 brance of the chain, as he dragged it after him, he collected it 

 into one or two coils and threw it over his shoulder ; this he did, 

 as occasion required, till, finding that it slipped from his shoulder, 

 he held it in his mouth. At last he was suffered to roam freely 

 about the ship, and became a general favorite, from the grave 

 playfulness of his manners, and his burlesque of human actions 

 and passions. Among other feats he stole the captain's brandy 

 bottle, and did his best to throw a cage full of small monkeys 

 overboard. This propensity to monkey-murder has been observed 

 in most of the individuals who have had an opportunity of show- 

 ing it ; as if the Uurangs considered the monkeys libellous cari- 

 catures upon their more dignified development, and were eager 

 to get rid of their irritating presence. When refused what he 

 wanted he would roll himself on deck, and behave as naughtily as 

 any froward child could ; nay, if the refusal were persisted in, he 

 would suddenly rise, and, uttering piercing screams, rush over 

 the ship's side, as though, in his despair, he were going to throw 

 himself into the sea. At first the captain and his crew actually 

 thought that they had carr ed the jke too far, and driven theii 



