412 msToaY of 



from another account that they take but a very short time to 

 come to a great degree of imitative perfection. Mr L. Brosse 

 bouL;ht two young ones, that were but a year old, from a negro ; 

 and tiiese at that early age discovered an astonishing power of 



times purloined the grog and the biscuit of Ws benefactor, he learned to cat 

 with a spoon ; and might be often seen sitting at liis cabin door, enjoying 

 his coffee, quite unembarrassed by those who observed him, and with a 

 grotesque and sober air, tliat seemed a burlesque on human nature. 



" Next to the boatswain, I was, perhaps, his most intimate acquaintance. 

 He would always follow rae to the niast-head.where I often went for the sake 

 of reading apart from the noise of the ship ; and, having satisfied himself that 

 my pockets contained no eatables, would lie down by my side, and pulling a 

 topsail entirely over him, peep from it occasionally to watch my movements. 

 " His favourite amusement in Java was in swinging from the branches of 

 trees, in pa.ssing from one to another, and in climbing over the roofs of 

 houses ; on board, in hanging by his arms from the ropes, and in romping 

 with the boys of the ship. He would entice them into play by striking 

 them with his hand as tliey passed, and bounding from them, but aUoning 

 them to overtake him, and engage in a mock sculBe, in which he used his 

 hands, feet, and mouth. If any conjecture could be formed from these fro- 

 lics of his mode of attacking the adversary, it would appear to be his first 

 object to throw him down, then to secure liim with his lia-ids and feet, and 

 then wound him with his teeth. 



" On board ship he commonly slept at the mast-head, after wrapping 

 himself in a sail. Tn making his bed, he used the greatest pains to remove 

 every thing out of Ms way, tliat miglit render the surface on which he in- 

 tended to Ue uneven : and, having satisfied himself with this part of his 

 arrangement, spread out the sail, and lying down upon it on Ms back, drew 

 it over his body Sometimes 1 pre-occupied his bed, and teased him by re- 

 fusing to give it up. On these occasions he would endeavour to pull the 

 sail from under me, or to force me from it, and would not rest till I had re- 

 signed it. If it were large enough for both, he would quietly lie by my side. 

 If all the sails happened to be set, be would hunt about for some other cover- 

 ing, and either steal one of the sailors' jackets or shirts that happened to be 

 drying, or empty a hammock of its blankets. Off the Cape of Good- Hope he 

 suffered much from a Ioav temperature, especially early in the mormng, when 

 he would descend from the mast,shuddering \vith cold, and running up to any 

 one of bis friends, climb into their arms, and clasping them closely, derive 

 warmth from their persons,screaming violently at any attemptto remove him. 

 " His food in Java was cMefly fruit, especially mangostans, of which he 

 vi'as extremely fond. He also sucked eggs with voracity, and often employed 

 himself in seeking them. On board ship his diet was of no definite kind. 

 He ate readily of all kinds of meat, and especially raw meat ; was very fond 

 of bread, but always preferred fruits, when he could obtain them. 



" His beverage in Java was water ; on board sMp it was as diversified aa 

 his food. He preferred coffee and tea, but woiUd readily take wine, and 

 exemplified Ms attachment to spirits by stealing the captain's brandy bottle 

 Since his arrival in London he ha.s preferred beer and milk to any thin 

 f'se, but driiLKS wine and other liquors. 



