MAMMALIA — OR AN G OUTANG. 75 



himself by one foot on the rattlings, and confine my legs with the other and 

 one of his hands, while he rifled my pockets. If he found it impossible to 

 overtake me, he would climb to a considerable height on the 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 being several times foiled in endeavoring 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 thl;n, 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 despair, relinquish his effort, and rush about the rigging, 

 screaming 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, v/ould come to my side, and taking 

 me by the arm, confine it while he hauled the orange up. 



"I have seen him exhibit violent alarm on two occasions only, when he 

 appeared to seek for safety in gaining as high an elevation as possible. On 

 seeing eight large turtles brought on board, whilst the Caesar was off the 

 Island of Ascension, he climbed with all possible speed to a higher part 

 of the ship than he had ever before reached, and, looking down upon them, 

 projected his long lips into the form of a hog's snout, uttering at the same 

 time a sound which might be described as between the croaking of a frog 

 and the grunting of a pig. After some time, he ventured to descend, but 

 with great caution, peeping continually at the turtles, but could not be 

 induced to approach within many yards of them. He ran to the same 

 height, and uttered the same soimds, on seeing some men bathing and 

 splashing in the sea ; and since his arrival in England, has shown nearly 

 the same degree of fear at the sight of a live tortoise." 



This animal survived his transportation to England, from August, 1817, 

 (when he arrived,) to the 1st of April, 1819, during which interval he was 

 in the custody of Mr Cross, at Exeter 'Change, as much caressed for the 

 gentleness of his disposition, as he was noticed for his great rarity. There 

 was no need of personal confinement, and little of restraint or coercion ; to 

 his keepers, especially, and to those whom he knew by their frequent visits, 

 he displayed a decided partiality. During his last illness, and at his death, 

 his piteous appearance, which seemed to bespeak his entreaties to those 

 about him for relief, did not fail to excite the feelings of all who witnessed 

 them; an excitement evidently heightened by the recollection of human 

 suffering under similar circumstances, which the sight of this animal so 

 strongly brought to mind. He was shedding his teeth at the period of his 

 death, which was probably promoted, if not caused by it. 



