38 
leave the trees and rush raging upon their enemies, whose 
sole safety lies in instant flight, as they are sure to be killed 
if caught.* 
But, though possessed of immense strength, it is rare 
for the Orang to attempt to defend itself, especially when 
attacked with fire-arms. On such occasions he endeavours 
to hide himself, or to escape along the topmost branches 
of the trees, breaking off and throwing down the boughs as 
he goes. When wounded he betakes himself to the highest 
attainable point of the tree, and emits a singular cry, con- 
sisting at first of high notes, which at length deepen into a 
low roar, not unlike that of a panther. While giving out the 
high notes the Orang thrusts out his lips into a funnel shape ; 
* Sir James Brooke, in a letter to Mr. Waterhouse, published in the pro- 
ceedings of the Zoological Society for 1841, says:—‘‘On the habits of the 
Orangs, as far as I have been able to observe them, I may remark that they are 
as dull and slothful as can well be conceived, and on no occasion, when pur- 
suing them, did they moye so fast as to preclude my keeping pace with them 
easily through a moderately clear forest; and even when obstructions below 
(such as wading up to the neck) allowed them to get away some distance, they 
were sure to stop and allow me to come up. I never observed the slightest 
attempt at defence, and the wood which sometimes rattled about our ears was 
broken by their weight, and not thrown, as some persons represent. If pushed 
to extremity, however, the Pappan could not be otherwise than formidable, 
and one unfortunate man, who, with a party, was trying to catch a large one 
alive, lost two of his fingers, besides being severely bitten on the face, whilst 
the animal finally beat off his pursuers and escaped.” 
Mr. Wallace, on the other hand, affirms that he has several times observed 
them throwing down branches when pursued. “It is true he does not throw 
them at a person, but casts them down vertically ; for it is evident that a bough 
cannot be thrown to any distance from the top of a lofty tree. In one case a 
female Mias, on a durian tree, kept up for at least ten minutes a continuous 
shower of branches and of the heavy, spined fruits, as large as 32-pounders, 
which most effectually kept us clear of the tree she was on. She could be seen 
breaking them off and throwing them down with every appearance of rage, 
uttering at intervals a loud pumping grunt, and evidently meaning mischief.”— 
“On the Habits of the Orang-Utan,” Annals of Nat. History. 1856. This 
statement, it will be observed, is quite in accordance with that contained in the 
letter of the Resident Palm quoted above (p. 16). 
