MAMMALIA—ORANG OUTANG. 75 
fumself 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. Aftet »eimg 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 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 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 torun 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 while he hauled the orange up. 
“T 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 Cesar 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 sounds, 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. 
