CHAP. XVI. NOTICES OF THE LEMUR. 4S7 



by a peculiar shouting or hallooing in the forest, apparently 

 at no great distance from the road. It was not like any sound 

 I had heard before, but resembled that of men or boys call- 

 ing to each other more than anything else. At first I thought 

 it was a number of people driving cattle out of the forest into 

 the road. Still I heard no crashing amongst the underwood, 

 and saw no signs of bullocks. Then I imagined it must be a 

 number of bird-catchers or squirrel-catchers. But on in- 

 quiring of my companions, they said the noise proceeded from 

 the black and white lemurs. Lemur macaco, of which there 

 were great numbers in the forests. 



I had repeatedly seen lemurs of more than one species in 

 the market at Tamatave, and numbers among the people of 

 the place. There were two or three of the large ruffed lemur 

 in a house near my own dwelling, and they seemed to be quite 

 domesticated. Though covered with thick, almost woolly 

 hair, they appeared to be ill at ease in wet or cold weather, 

 but to luxuriate in the warm sunshine. I often noticed two 

 or three of them together, on a fine morning after rain, raised 

 up on their hind legs, on the outside of the house, leaning 

 back against the wall of the house, with their fore legs spread 

 out, evidently enjoying the warmth of the sun which was 

 shining upon them. They are often kept tame by the natives 

 for a long time, and numbers are sold to the masters of vessels 

 and others visiting the port. We had one on board the ship in 

 which I made my first voyage from Madagascar. It was a fine 

 animal, and during the twenty-eight days of our passage I had 

 frequent opportunities of observing its disposition and habits. 

 It was tied to a boat on the deck; and in a basket under 

 the fore part of the boat it found a partial shelter from the rain 

 and the wind. It conveyed its food, boiled rice and fruit, to 

 its mouth by the hand. It was gentle and sociable, seemingly 

 grateful for any trifling notice or kindness. I frequently gave 

 it water, which it lapped like a dog, and occasionally a ba- 



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