270 AX AMDSINQ PLAYMATE. 



one of these animals, which for some time lived in his possession 

 on board ship. It was gentle, but lively and frolicsome, and 

 occasionally rather apt to get out of temper. It became very in- 

 timate with a little Papuan girl on board, and would often sit 

 with her near the capstan, its long arms round her neck, the 

 two lovingly eating biscuit together. In his gambols with the 

 child, he would roll on the deck with her, push her away with 

 his feet, then entwine his long arms around her, and playfully 

 pretend to bite. With some Monkeys on board he was equally 

 disposed to be on good terms, but they avoided his company, and 

 to revenge himself he took every opportunity of teasing them, 

 and pulling their tails. One feature in the habits of this animal 

 is peculiarly interesting. He invariably left his play when a 

 vessel passed at sea, and taking up a position on the peak-hal- 

 yards, would sit there, gazing intently across the waters at the 

 departing ship, till it could no longer be seen. 



The Orang-Outang (Pithecus satyrus) was long a puzzle to 

 the early naturalists, the great Linnajus himself not exccpted. 

 It figures in all the earlier editions of the " Systema Natura" as a 

 veritable wild man of the woods, and is described as coming 

 abroad only at night, and conversing in a kind of whistling voice. 

 The Orang is a native of Borneo and Sumatra, in the former 01 

 which islands there are two distinct species, one of comparatively 

 small size, timid and gentle, the other a huge beast, standing 

 nearly six feet high, and only found in the deepest parts of the 

 forests. These monsters are much dreaded by the natives, who 

 regard them as having a natural dominion over the secluded depths 

 of the forest, and as being animated by the souls of their own 

 ancestors. Intercourse with Europeans, however, is gradually 

 undermining these superstition.8 ; and it is now no unusual thing 

 to meet with natives nothing loth to go in quest of the Mias, 

 as the Dyaks and Malays name the animal braving all its 

 terrors, natural and supernatural, " for a consideration." 



Since Sir James Brooke has laid his strong hand on Sarawak, 

 Europeans have had comparatively little difficulty in exploring 

 the wilds of Borneo ; and, as a consequence, the habits of the 

 Orang are becoming pretty accurately known. Amongst others 

 Mr. Wallace has been upon the track of the monster, and he has 

 since given us a very full and complete account of the private 

 life of this monarch of the Bornean woods. The Orang, it ap- 



