28 VERTEBRATA. MAMMALIA. 



His favourite amusement in Java was swinging from 

 the branches of the trees, or climbing over the roofs 

 of the houses ; on board, in hanging by the ropes, or 

 romping with the boys of the ship. He would en- 

 tice them to play by striking them with his hand as 

 they passed, and then bounding from them, but al- 

 lowing them to overtake him, and then engage in a 

 mock scuffle, in which he used his hands, feet, and 

 mouth. If any conjecture could be formed from 

 these frolics of his mode of attacking an adversary, 

 it would appear to be his first object to throw him 

 down, then secure him with his hands and feet, and 

 then wound him with his teeth. Of some small 

 Monkeys on board, he took little notice, whilst under 

 the observation of the persons of the ship. Once, 

 indeed, he openly attempted to throw a small cage 

 containing three of them overboard ; but I had 

 reason to believe that he was not so indifferent to 

 their society when free from observation. On one 

 occasion I observed him lying on his back, partially 

 covered with a sail, contemplating with great gravity 

 the gambols of a young Monkey, which was bound- 

 ing over him ; at length he caught him by the tail, 

 and tried to envelope him in the covering. The 

 Monkey seemed to dislike the confinement, and 

 broke from him, but again renewed his gambols, and 

 though repeatedly caught, always escaped. The in- 

 tercourse, however, did not seem that of equals, for 

 the Orang-otan never condescended to romp with the 

 Monkeys as he did with the boys of the ship. Yet 

 the Monkeys had evidently a great predilection for 



