QUADRUMANA. 2 



his company, for whenever they broke loose, they 

 took their way to his resting-place. But though so 

 gentle when not exceedingly irritated, the Orang- 

 otan could be excited to violent rage, and on one or 

 two occasions committed an act which, in a rational 

 being, would have been called the threatening of 

 suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange, when he 

 attempted to take it, he would shriek violently, and 

 swing furiously about the ropes, then return and 

 endeavour to obtain it ; if again refused, he would 

 roll for some time like an angry child' upon the deck, 

 uttering the most piercing screams, and then sudden- 

 ly starting up, rush furiously over the side of the 

 ship and disappear. On first witnessing this, we 

 thought that he had thrown himself into the sea, 

 but on searching found him concealed under the 

 chains.* 



" I have seen him exhibit violent alarm on two 

 occasions only, when he appeared to seek for safety 

 in gaining as high an elevation as possible. On 

 seeing eight large turtles brought on board off the 

 Isle of Ascension, he climbed with all possible speed 

 to a higher part of the ship than he had ever before 

 reached, and looking down upon them projected his 

 long lips into the form of a hog's snout, uttering at 

 the same time a sound which might be described as 

 between the croaking of a frog, and the grunting of 

 a pig. After some time he ventured to descend, but 

 with great caution, peeping continually at the turtles, 



* Pieces of timber projecting from the side of a ship, to which are 

 fastened the shrouds, &c. 



