THE ORANG-OUTANG. 27 



There seem to be at least two species of this animal, that are found in Borneo, and 

 some zoologists consider the Sumatran ape to be a third species. 



The natives distinguish the two Bornean species by the name of Mias-kassar, and 

 Mias-pappan, the latter of which animals is the Simia satyr us, so well represented in the 

 engraving. 



The Pappan is a truly terrible animal when roused to anger, and would be even more 

 formidable than is the case, were it endowed with a less slothful disposition. Its length 

 of arm is very great ; for when the animal stands erect, and permits the arms to hang 

 by its sides, its hands can nearly touch the ground. The muscular power of these arms 

 is proportionate to their length, and-it is chiefly by means of the upper limbs that the 

 ape makes progress among the boughs of the trees on which it loves to live. 



So powerful, indeed, are the arms, that a female Orang has been known to snap a 

 strong spear like a reed, and this after she had been weakened by many wounds and 

 loss of blood. In attack the Orang-outang is not sparing of teeth as well as hands ; and 

 uses to the utmost the weapons with which it has been endowed. The teeth of an 

 adult Orang are truly formidable weapons, and it is said that even the leopard cares 

 not to prove their power. So strong are even the front teeth, that they are capable of 

 gnawing through and tearing away the dense fibrous covering in which the cocoa-nut is 

 enveloped, and possibly can cut through the hard shell itself. Besides these teeth, the 

 Orang is furnished with enormous canines, or tusks, the object of which is probably 

 to act as offensive weapons ; for the Orang is a vegetable-feeding animal, and the canine 

 teeth can hardly be given merely for the purpose of cutting vegetable food. 



Although the hind limbs are not so largely developed as the arms, yet they possess 

 great power, and are perfectly adapted to the purpose which they serve. For terres- 

 trial locomotion they are anything but fitted, as the animal is unable to plant the sole, 

 or rather the palm, flat upon the ground, and rests upon the outside edges of the 

 feet. 



The walk of the Orang-outang is little better than an awkward hobble, and the creat- 

 ure shuffles along uneasily by help of its arms. The hands are placed on the ground, 

 and are used as crutches in aid of the feet, which are often raised entirely from the 

 ground, and the body swung through the arms. Sometimes it bends considerably 

 backwards, and throwing its long arms over its head, preserves its equilibrium by their 

 means. 



This attitude is caused by the peculiar structure of the hind limbs, which, besides 

 their comparative shortness, are only loosely jointed to the hip-bones. The Orang- 

 outang is destitute of the short, but very strong ligament, that binds the thigh-bone to 

 the hip- joint, and which is called the ligamentum teres. This ligament is very power- 

 ful in man, and plays an important part in giving him that steady tread, which alone 

 is sufficient to distinguish the human species from the apes. 



But the Orang-outang is intended for an arboreal life, and requires limbs that can 

 adapt themselves to the boughs. Therefore the legs are so twisted inwards, that the 

 feet can grasp the branches freely, and hold the body in its position, while the long 

 arms are stretched out to take a fresh hold. 



Among the trees the Orang-outang is in its element, and traverses the boughs with 

 an ease and freedom that contrasts strongly with its awkward movements when on the 

 ground. It has a curious habit of making for itself a temporary resting-place, by 

 weaving together the branches so as to make a rude platform or scaffold on which it 

 reposes. The powerful limbs of the animal enable it to execute this task in a very 

 short time. Rajah Brooke of Sarawak narrates an interesting tale of a female Orang- 

 outang, which when severely wounded ceased her attempts to escape, and weaving to- 

 gether a branch-platform, seated herself upon it, and quietly awaited her end. The 

 poor animal received several more shots before she expired, and as she fell dead upon 

 her extemporary edifice, the hunters were put to some trouble before they could dis- 

 lodge the dead body. The whole process of weaving the branches and seating herself 

 did not occupy more than a minute. 



When the hunters desire to capture an adult Orang-outang they hem him in by felling 

 the trees around that on which he is seated, and so deprive him of the means of escape. 



