THE ORAN OTAN. -43 



the great ones generally came forward and seemed 

 to grin in their faces, but they always fled when an 

 attack was made. One of them was killed from the 

 boat with a gun, but before the boat could be got 

 ashore the otliers had carried it off. Their habita- 

 tions were found in some of the woods, composed of 

 plants and the branches of trees, so tliickly intenvo- 

 ven as to protect them from the heat of the Sun. 

 The ground was beaten perfectly smooth, few plants 

 growing in their paths or dwellings*. — We are told 

 by another writer, that during the breeding season 

 the males relinquish these to the females and their 

 young-j-. — The Oran Otans are not lively and fro- 

 licsome, but in all their actions they are much more 

 deliberate and sedate than the rest of their tribe. 

 If a Negro is unfortunate enough to wander in the 

 woods, and be discovered by them, they generally 

 attack and kill him. They are able even to drive 

 off the Elephant ; with a piece of wood in their 

 hands, or only with their fists, they will so teaze 

 the huge beast, that in the end he is induced to 

 retire:|:. They have been known to throw stones at 

 those who have offended them. Bosman informs us, 

 that behind the Enolish fort at Wimba on the coast 

 of Guinea, several of these Apes fell upon two of the 

 company's slaves, overpowered them, and v.ere 

 about to poke out their eyes with some sticks, wlien 

 a party of Negroes happened to come up at a fortu- 

 nate moment to their rescu£||. It is said, that tliey 



* Johson's Voyage to the River Gambia Purchas. ii. i/)7,3. 

 t Matthews's A'oyajje to Sierra Lecnia.— ;;; Purclia*. ii. aS;^ 

 I Bosuun, Q4-^ 



