MAMMIFKROUS ANIMALS. 313 



in sugar, and allowed it to cool before he drank 

 it. All these actions he performed without any 

 other instigation than the signs, or verbal orders 

 of his master; and often of his own accord. He 

 did no injury to any person ; he even approach- 

 ed company with circumspection, and presented 

 himself as if he wanted to be caressed !" 



The above brief account of the actions of the 

 Ourang Outang, in the domesticated state, paints 

 in very lively colours, the docility of the animal, 

 and the very strong imitative powers he possesses 

 when these are called into exercise by educa- 

 tion ; but while we consider the erect position 

 to be a human attribute only, and therefore doubt 

 this animal's capability of walking on his hind 

 legs for any continuance, (however he may 

 have been taught to do so for a short time, in the 

 presence of strangers.) we see nothing in these 

 actions indicative of that intelligence and saga- 

 city which we so often see in the dog, and not 

 unfrequently in the elephant ; though, from the 

 deficient resemblance in those two animals, to 

 the human species, they may not appear so 

 striking at first sight, as in the Ourang Outang. 



The large African Apes, nnder the denomina- 

 tion of Pongo, which have been mistaken for the 

 Ourang Outang, are stated, by credulous travel- 

 lers, to be of a very extraordinary magnitude, 

 and to be so powerful, "that ten men are not able 

 to hold them ; that if stray Negroes fall in their 



