1905. | NOMENCLATURE OF THE ANTHROPOID APES. 73 
general description of the Pithekoi delineates very distinctly an 
‘Anthropoid Ape, and reads as though it was derived from a 
generalised knowledge of the Chimpanzee, a knowledge obtained 
no doubt from specimens which had been brought down the Nile 
from the Egyptian Sudan (in the southern parts of which the 
animal still exists) to Lower Egypt. A good summary of 
Aristotle’s description of the Pithekoi is given in Dr. Tyson’s 
celebrated book ‘“‘On the Anatomy of a “Pyemie, sive Homo 
sylvestris,’ which, as before stated, was published in 1699, and of 
which there are copies in two or three of the principal libraries 
of London. 
T think I am correct in saying that in an Egyptian fresco or 
papyrus which is exhibited in the Egyptian collection of the 
Museum at Naples, a Chimpanzee is depicted amongst other strange 
animals brought to Egypt from the Sudan. I believe also there 
is a representation of the Chimpanzee on one of the Roman 
mosaics recently brought to light at or near Carthage, and now 
preserved in one of the Museums, either at Carthage or Tunis. 
The Byzantine Greeks, who, after Alexandex’s conquests, ex- 
tended their trade to India, and the Arabs of west, south, and 
east Arabia, who maintained commercial relations with Sumatra, 
the Malay Peninsula, North-west Borneo, and the ports of the 
Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, may haye introduced some 
knowledge of the Orang utan to Constantinople, to Egypt, and 
to the Mediterranean world between 100 B.c. and the fall of the 
Byzantine Empire. 
Sir Walter Scott in his novel ‘Count Robert of Paris’ introduced 
somewhat fantastically a captive Orang utan into the story. Iam 
not aware what foundation he had for this incident ; and I think 
it somewhat improbable that an Orang utan could at that period 
have survived the overland journey from the Persian Gulf to the 
Mediterranean, or the transit through Egypt. 
Marco Polo, the Venetian, in 1296 or thereabouts, travelled 
overland from Asia Minor to China and the Malay Peninsula, and 
reached Sumatra and possibly Borneo, bringing back with him 
stories of man-like apes, some of which cer tainly referred to the 
Gibbons, while one or two may be attributed to the Orang utan. 
Odorie, a friar of the Order of St. Francis, travelled overland 
from Constantinople to India during the first half of the 
14th Century, and from India reached Sumatra by sea. He 
brought back distinct accounts of both Gibbons and Orangs. 
Ibn Batuta, a Morocco Arab, also journeyed to those parts about 
the same time, and described the Orang utan in his records. 
Friar Giovanni dei Marignolli, a Franciscan like Odorie, also 
travelled overland from France to China and thence to the Maiay 
Archipelago during the first half of the 14th Century, and br ought 
back from Sumatra, or more likely North Borneo, very distinct 
accounts of the Orang utan. 
At the commencement of the 16th Century the Portuguese 
conquistadores reached Malacca and Sumatra in their ships, and 
