66 "BORNEO— THE ORANG-UTAN. [chap. iv. 



I put my finger in its mouth it sucked with great 

 vigour, drawing in its cheeks with all its might in the 

 vain effort to extract some milk, and onl}' after per- 

 severing a long time would it give up in disgust, and 

 set up a scream very like that of a baby in similar 

 circumstances. 



When handled or nursed, it was very quiet and con- 

 tented, but when laid down by itself would invariably cry ; 

 and for the first few nights was very restless and noisy. I 

 fitted up a little box for a cradle, with a soft mat for it to 

 lie upou, which was changed and washed every day ; and 

 I soon found it necessary to wash the little Mias as well. 

 After I had done so a few times, it came to like the 

 operation, and as soon as it was dirty would begin crying, 

 and not leave off till I took it out and carried it to the 

 spout, when it immediately became quiet, although it 

 would wince a little at the first rush of the cold water 

 and make ridiculously wry faces while the stream was 

 running over its head. It enjoyed the wiping and rubbing 

 dry amazingly, and when I brushed its hair seemed to be 

 perfectly happy, lying quite still with its arms and legs 

 stretched out while I thoroughly brushed the long hair 

 of its back and arms. For the first few days it clung 

 desperately with all four hands to whatever it could lay 

 hold of, and I had to be careful to keep my beard out of its 

 way, as its fingers clutched hold of hair more tenaciously 



