SIMIAD^E. 401 



added, as it beautifully and incontestably proves the strong affection of 

 the species for their offspring. A few years since, Captain Hull repaired 

 to Sumatra, purposely to obtain one of these animals ; but, at his outset, 

 he experienced a serious obstacle, in the difficulty of procuring guides to 

 conduct him to their usual haunts : this proceeded from the superstitious 

 fears of the natives, who not only believe that the Orangs, whom they 

 call Mawys, possess a natural dominion over the great forests, but that 

 they are animated by the souls of their own ancestors. Succeeding, at 

 length, in this preliminary part of the undertaking, the Captain soon met 

 with one of the objects of his search, a female, which he describes as 

 having been five feet in height. When first discovered, she was sitting 

 on a branch of one of the highest trees, with a young one in her arms. 

 Upon being wounded, she uttered a piercing cry ; and immediately lifting 

 up her little one as high as her long arms would reach, let it go among 

 the topmost branches. While the party approached to fire again, she 

 made no attempt to escape, but kept a steady watch, glancing her eye 

 occasionally toward her offspring, and at last seemed to wave her hand 

 to hasten its departure, which it safely effected. (Brewster's Edinburgh 

 Journal, vol. vi. p. 161.) 



We are informed, by Le Compte, that in Borneo it is a favourite 

 amusement of the native princes and nobility to hunt these Apes, as Stags 

 are hunted in Europe. 



Gemelli Careri* (Voyage du Tour du Monde, traduit de Vltalien 

 de Gemelli Careri, par L. M. N., &c. Paris, 1719) says, that he has 

 seen one which would weep like a child, and that it walked on its hind 

 limbs, and carried its mat under its arm to lie down upon and sleep. 

 He adds, that these Apes appear to have more sense, in some respects, 

 than Men ; for, when they no longer find fruits on the mountains, they go 

 to the sea-shore, where they catch Crabs, Oysters, and the like. There is 

 a sort of Oyster, called Taclovo, which weighs many pounds, and which 

 often lies open on the beach ; but the Ape, fearing to be caught by the 

 hand, when it commences its attack, introduces a piece of stone between 

 the shells, so as to prevent their closing, when it demolishes the Oyster 

 without fear. 



D'Obsonville communicated to Buffon an account of a male adult 

 Orang, four feet six inches in height, which he had an opportunity of 

 seeing about two months after its capture : it is described as evincing, in 

 the expression of its countenance, and the sound of its voice, inquietude, 

 listlessness, pain, and impatience. He was informed, by the natives, that 

 these animals pine in confinement, and soon die. 



According to M. Relian, a surgeon, resident at Batavia (who informs 

 us that M. Palavicini, in 1759, took two living adult Orangs, a male and 



* Careri visited Turkey, Persia, Hindostan, China, the Philippine Islands, &c. 



