^HE ORAN OTAJf. 41, 



however, from Man in the number of ribs, having 

 thirteen, whereas in Man there are but twelve. 

 The vertebra? of the neck were also shorter, the 

 bones of the pelvis narrower ; the orbits of the 

 eyes were deeper, the kidneys rounder, the urinary 

 and gall bladders were longer and smaller, and the 

 ureters of a different figure*. Such were the prin- 

 cipal distinctions between the internal parts of this 

 animal and those of Man ; in almost ev^ery thing 

 else they were exactly the same, and discovered an 

 astonishing congruity. Indeed many parts were so 

 much alike in conformation that it might haveexcited 

 wonder how they were productive of such few advan- 

 tages. The tongue, and all the organs of the voice, 

 were the same, and yet the animal was dumb ; the 

 brain was formed in the same manner with that of 

 Man, and yet the creature wanted reason : an evi- 

 dent proof, as the Comte de BufFon finely observes, 

 that no disposition of matter will give mind ; and 

 that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed 

 in vain, when there is not infused a soul to direct 

 its operations. 



These animals are found in the most desert places 

 in the interior of Africa, and the island of Borneo. 

 They feed on fruits, and, when they happen to ap- 

 proach the shore, will cat shell-fish or crabs* 

 Their resting places are in trees, where they iire 

 secured from the attacks of all predacious creatures 

 except Serpents ^. We are assured by Andrew 

 Battcll, a Portuguese traveller, who resided in An- 

 gola near eighteen years, that these animals were 



* ^inatcmy ofa Pigmy.— t Pcmi. Quad. 1. lG7. 



