S36 LETTER XXXV III. 



it appears to possess in an eminent degree, but exhi- 

 bits no marks of intellectual Operation, no traces of 

 reason; between matter and mind there will always 

 be an immense interval. The near approach of this 

 animal to the human form, without possessing any of 

 the faculties of the human mind, will undoubtedly 

 excite pur gratitude to the beneficent Creator, for the 

 high prerogatives accorded to us in the inestimable 

 gift of intellect. 



THE LONG- ARM ED APE, 



is the animal which, next to the ourang-outang, bearc 

 the nearest resemblance to the human form : it has no 

 tail, and walks erect. Its ordinary stature is from 

 three to four feet: its visage is flat, of a tawny colour, 

 and encircled with grey teiir : its eyes are large and. 

 sunk; and, on the whole, it has a remarkable singu- 

 larity of aspect. But the most striking distinction of 

 this animal is, the extraordinary length of its arms, 

 which reach to the ground when it stands in an up- 

 right posture. It feeds on the fruits, leaves, and bark 

 of trees; is of a mild and tractable disposition; and, 

 like all the ape and monkey race, is fond of imitation. 

 It is a native of India, and several of the Oriental 

 islands. 



THE BAHOON 



differs from most animals of the ape kind, not only in 

 external formation, but in its disposition, whicn is 

 fierce and untractable. There are several varieties 

 of this animal, which altogether constitute a fierce 

 and formidable race. The baboon is exceedingly 

 strong; its body and limbs are thick; it tail is about 

 eight inches long; its height, when standing upright, 

 from four to five feet. Its head is large; audits 

 shoulders, which are of an amazing thickness, indi- 

 dicate its prodigious strength : its eyes are small and 

 deeply sunk; its teeth are large and formidable; and 

 in each cheek it has a pouch, into which, when sa- 

 tiated with eating, it puts the remainder of its food. 

 Its body is covered with hair, of a light reddish brown, 

 that on the head is long; the buttocks are generally 

 of u rud colour, and naked. 



