68 BORNEO— THE ORANG-UTAN. [chap. iv. 



it admirably, as it could sprawl its legs about and always 

 find some hair, wbicb it grasped with the greatest tenacity. 

 I was now in hopes that I had made the little orphan 

 quite happy ; and so it seemed for some time, till it began 

 to remember its lost parent, and try to suck. It would 

 pull itself up close to the skin, and try about everywhere 

 for a likely place ; but, as it only succeeded in getting 

 mouthfuls of hair and wool, it would be greatly disgusted, 

 and scream violently, and, after two or three attempts, let 

 go altogether. One day it got some wool into its throat, 

 and I thought it would have choked, but after much 

 gasping it recovered, and I was obliged to take the imita- 

 tion mother to pieces again, and give up this last attempt 

 to exercise the little creature. 



After the first week 1 found I could feed it better 

 with a spoon, and give it a little more varied and more 

 solid food. Well- soaked biscuit mixed with a little 

 egg and sugar, and sometimes sweet potatoes, were 

 readily eaten ; and it was a never-failing amusement to 

 observe the curious changes of countenance by which it 

 woidd express its approval or dislike of what was given 

 to it. The poor little thing would bck its lips, draw in 

 its cbeeks, and turn up its eyes with an expression of 

 the most supreme satisfaction when it had a mouthful 

 particularly to its taste. On the other hand, when its food 

 was not sufficiently sweet or palatable, it would turn the 



