TIIE BED OR ASIATIC OBANG-OUTANG. 119 



hands, whilst he rifled my pockets. If he found it 

 impossible to overtake me, he would climb to a con- 

 siderable height on the loose rigging, and then drop 

 suddenly upon me. Or if, perceiving his intention, I 

 attempted to descend, he would slide down a rope and 

 meet me at the bottom of the shrouds. Sometimes I 

 fastened an orange to the end of a rope, and lowered 

 it to the deck from the mast-head ; and as soon as he 

 attempted to seize it, drew it rapidly up. After be- 

 ing several times foiled in endeavouring to obtain it 

 by direct means, he altered his plan. Appearing to 

 care little about it, he would remove to some distance, 

 and ascend the rigging very leisurely for some time, 

 and then, by a sudden spring, catch the rope which 

 held it. If defeated again, by my suddenly jerking 

 the rope, he would at first seem quite in desca^, re- 

 linquish his effort, and rush about the rigging scream- 

 ing violently. But he would always return, and 

 again seizing the rope, disregard the jerk, and allow 

 it to run through his hand till within reach of the 

 orange ; but if again foiled, would come to my side, 

 and taking me by the arm, confine it whilst he hauled 

 the orange up. 



<f This animal neither practises the grimace and 

 antics of other monkeys, nor possesses their perpetual 

 proneness to mischief. Gravity approaching to melan- 

 choly and mildness, were sometimes strongly expressed 

 in his countenance, and seem to be the character- 

 istics of his disposition. When he first came amongst 



