166 UNGKA APE. 



myself; but with any of the children he would 

 readily gambol. It was a strange fact, that he 

 in particular avoided all those who wore large 

 bushy whiskers. 



It was ludicrous to behold the terrified looks 

 of the animal, if his finger was taken towards a 

 cup of hot tea, as if to ascertain the temperature ; 

 and his attempt at remonstrating on the impro- 

 priety of such conduct, together with his half- 

 suppressed screams, were very diverting. 



Among other amusements, he would frequently 

 hang from a rope by one arm ; and, when in 

 a frolicsome humour, frisk about, with his eyes 

 shut, giving him the appearance of a person hang- 

 ing, and in the agonies of death. 



When we spoke a ship at sea, his curiosity 

 seemed to be much excited by the novel object 

 near us, for he would invariably mount up the 

 rigging, at a height suflficient to command a 

 good view of the stranger, and sometimes take 

 up his position on the peak haulyards, just under 

 the flag, a signal, difficult no doubt for the 

 stranger to comprehend ; there he would remain 

 gazing wistfully after the departing stranger, 

 until he was out of sight — " give one parting, 

 lingering look," and then come down on the 

 deck again, and resume the sports from which 

 the stranger's appearance had disturbed him. 



