72 MAMMALIA—ORANG OUTANG. 
railed bamboo cage, for the purpose of being conveyed from the island. As 
soon as he felt himself in confinement, he took the rails of the cage into 
his hands, and shaking them violently, endeavored to break them in pieces; 
but finding that they did not yield generally, he tried them separately, and, 
having discovered one weaker than the rest, worked at it constantly, till he 
had broken it, and made his escape. On board ship, an attempt being made 
to secure him by a chain tied to a strong staple, he instantly unfastened it, 
and ran off with the chain dragging behind; but finding himself embarras- 
sed by its length, he coiled it once or twice, and threw it over his shoulder. 
This feat he often repeated; and when he found it would not remain on his 
shoulder, he took it into his mouth. 
“After several abortive attempts to secure him more effectually, he was 
allowed to wander freely about the ship, and soon became familiar with the 
sailors, and surpassed them in agility. They often chased him about the 
rigging, and gave him frequent opportunities of displaying his adroitness in 
managing an escape. On first starting, he would endeavor to outstrip his 
pursuers by mere speed; but when much pressed, eluded them by seizing 
a loose rope, and swinging out of their reach. At other times, he would 
patiently wait on the shrouds, or at the mast head, till his pursuers almost 
touched him, and then suddenly lower himself to the deck by any rope that 
Was neax him, or bound along the mainstay, from one mast to the other, 
swinging by his hands, and moving them one over the other. The men 
would often shake the ropes by which he clung with so much violence, as 
to make me fear his falling; but I soon found that the power of his muscles 
could not be easily overcome. When ina playful humor, he would often 
swing within arm’s length of his pursuer, and, having struck him with his 
hand, throw himself from him. 
“Whilst in Java, he lodged in a large tamarind-tree, near my dwelling, 
and: formed a bed by intertwining the small branches, and covering them 
with leaves. During the day, he would lie with his head projecting beyond 
the nest, watching whoever might pass under; and when he saw any one 
with fruit, would descend to obtain a share of it. He always retired for the 
night at sunset, or sooner if he had been well fed, and rose with the sun, 
and visited those from whom he habitually received food. 
“Of some small monkeys on board from Java, he took little notice, whilst 
under the observation of the persons of the ship. Once, indeed, he openly 
attempted to throw a small cage, containing three of them, overboard, be-_ 
cause, probably, he had seen them receive food, of which he could obtain no 
part. But although he held so little intercourse with them when under our 
inspection, I had reason to suspect that he was less indifferent to their 
society when free from our observation ; and was one day summoned to-the 
top-gallant yard of the mizen-mast to overlook him playing with a young 
male monkey. Lying. on his back, partially covered with a sail, he for 
some time contemplated, with great gravity, the gambols cf the mankey, 
