144 THE OURAN OUTANO. 



" would lie in a bed, place its head upon a pillow, and 

 " then pull up the bed-clothes to its neck, in the same 

 " manner that human beings are accustomed to do/' 



Mr. Bufibn informs us that he saw one of this singu- 

 lar race of animals sit at table, wipe its mouth with a 

 napkin after drinking ; pour the wine into its glass ; 

 use a fork and spoon to carry the victuals to its mouth ; 

 put sugar into its cup ; pour out the tea, and leave it 

 to cool ; in short, so exactly imitate the human man- 

 ners, that it was astonishing to see how completely sa- 

 gacity would be substituted for sense. 



Such are the powers and habitudes of the smaller 

 class of these extraordinary creatures ; but we are pre- 

 sented with a very different picture in those of a larger 

 stature and more muscular form, which, in the East 

 Indies, Africa, and Borneo, are considered as the 

 most redoubtable rivals of mankind. It is absolutely 

 impossible to take any of these formidable animals 

 alive, as they always travel in companies ; and indeed 

 their strength is so great that ten men would scarcely 

 be a match for one of them. They generally sleep un- 

 der large trees, though they build themselves sheds, to 

 which they occasionally retire ; and when any of the 

 species die, the rest cover the body with leaves and 

 branches of trees : they walk in an erect posture, and 

 carry a large club in their hands by way of defence, 

 with which they will even venture to attack the ele- 

 phant. 



Jn the island of Borneo, where they chiefly abound, 

 the inhabitants hunt them in the same manner as they 

 do the elephant and the lion ; and it becomes a diver- 

 sion which both the king and his courtiers follow with 

 great avidity ; and its resemblance to the human form 

 obtains it neither pity or protection. 



