35o J A M A I C A. 



LinnKU?, upon t'ne authority of fome voyage-writer?, affirms, that 

 they converfe together in a kind of h'ljjlng dialeft ; that they poflel's 

 thought and refli.xion, and believe the world was made for them, 

 &c. but Mr. BufTon, with good reafon, fufpeds that Linnasus has 

 ■confounded the nlbinoe with the oran-outaiig. 



The oran-outangs are laid to make a kind of huts, compoftd of 

 boughs interlaced, whicli fcrve to guard them from the too great heat of 

 the fun [c]. 



It is alfo a'.'erred, that they fometimes endeavour to furprize and 

 carry off Negroe women into their woody retreats, in order to enjoy 

 them. 



Monfieur la Brofle fays, he knew a Negrefs at Loangs in Guiney, 

 who had refided three years with them; he aflerts that they grow to 

 the height oi fix to /even feet, have vaft mufcular ftrength, and de- 

 fend themfelves with flicks. He bought two young ones, a male of 

 fourteen months, and a female of twelve. They fat at table, ate of every 

 thing without dillinftion, handled the knife and fork, and helped 

 themfelves, drank wine, and other liquors ; made themfelves under- 

 Itood by the cabbin boy, when they wanted any thing, and, upon the 

 boy's refufal to give them what they feemed to defire, they fhewed 

 fymptoms of violent anger and difgufl. The male falling lick, was 

 twice blooded in the right arm, which relieved him ; and afterwards, 

 whenever he found himfclf indifpofed, he pointed to his arm, as if he 

 knew what had don? him good in his former illnefs. I muft own, 

 this account contains fome particulars very extraordinary ; for a child 

 of the fame age, in England, would be regarded as wonderfully for- 

 ward, if it (hould exhibit the like proofs of fagacity. But, if we 

 allow to thefe oran-outangs a degree of intelle£l not re llrifted wholly 

 to inftinft, but approaching", like the frame of their organs, to an af- 

 finity with the hiuiian, we may eftablifia the credibility of this rela- 

 tion, by fuppoling that like, the human inhabitants of Guiney, they 

 arrive three or four years earlier at the age of puberty, or matu- 

 rity, than the inhabitants of Northern climates : and confcquently 

 that their faculties, in general, bloflbm and expand proportionably 

 earlier. 



[(■] Job foil. 



Mr. 



