DOCILITY OF ANIMALS. 251 



tion, it sinks so low, that it is nearly rivalled by the most sa- 

 gacious brutes. It is not necessary to enlarge upon a subject 

 so familiar to the most common observer as the capacity of 

 mankind for acquiring knowledge by observation and instruc- 

 tion. The bodies of men, though not so ductile as their 

 minds, are capable, when properly managed by early culture, 

 of wonderful exertions. Men accustomed to live in polished 

 societies, have little or no idea of the activity, the courage, 

 the patience, and the persevering industry of savages, when 

 simply occupied in hunting wild animals for food for them- 

 selves and their families. The hunger, the fatigue, the hard- 

 ships, which they not only endure with fortitude, but despise, 

 would amaze and terrify the imagination of any civilized 

 European. , 



Beside man, many other animals are capable of being in- 

 structed. The ape kind, and especially the larger species of 

 them, imitate the actions of men without any instruction. 

 This imitation they are enabled to perform with the greater 

 exactness, on account of their structure, which approaches 

 in many respects so nearly to that of the human species. 

 The ourang-outang is "the most celebrated of these animals in 

 this particular. 



" The ourang-outang," says Buffon, " which I saw, walked 

 always on two feet, even when carrying things of considera- 

 bJe weight. His air was melancholy, his movements measured, 

 his disposition gentle, and very different from those of other 

 apes. He had neither the impatience of the Barbary ape, 

 the maliciousness of the baboon, nor the extravagance of the 

 monkeys. It may be alleged that he had the benefit of in- 

 struction ; but the apes, which I shall compare with him, 

 were educated in the same manner. Signs and words were 

 alone sufficient to make our ourang-outang act ; but the baboon 

 required a cudgel, and the other apes a whip ; for none of 

 them would obey without blows. I have seen this animal 

 present his hand to conduct the people who came to visit him, 

 and walk as gravely along as if he had formed a part of the 

 company. I have seen him sit down at table, unfold his 

 towel, wipe his lips, use a spoon or a fork to carry the victuals 

 to his mouth, pour his liquor into a glass, and make it touch 

 that of the person who drank along with him. When invited 

 to drink tea, he brought a cup and a saucer, placed them on 

 'the table, put in sugar, poured out the tea, and allowed it to 

 cool before he drank it. All these actions he performed with 

 out any other instigation than the signs or verbal orders of 



