208 SUMATRA. [chap. vxii. 



tremendous leaps from the branches of one tree to those of 

 another a little lower, and it is very amusing when one 

 strong leader takes a bold jump, to see the others following 

 with more or less trepidation ; and it often happens that 

 one or two of the last seem quite unable to make up their 

 minds to leap till the rest are disappearing, when, as if in 

 desperation at being left alone, they throw themselves 

 frantically into the air, and often go crashing through the 

 slender branches and fall to the ground. 



A very curious ape, the Siamang, was also rather abundant, 

 but it is much less bold than the monkeys, keeping to the 

 virgin forests and avoiding villages. This species is allied to 

 the little long-armed apes of the genus Hylobates, but is 

 considerably larger, and differs from them by having the two 

 first fingers of the feet united together, nearly to the end, 

 whence its Latin name, Siamanga syndactyly It moves 

 much more slowly than the active Hylobates, keeping- 

 lower down in trees, and not indulging in such tremendous 

 leaps ; but it is still very active, and by means of its im- 

 mense long arms, five feet six inches across in an adult 

 about three feet high, can swing itself along among the 

 trees at a great rate. I purchased a small one, which had 

 been caught by the natives and tied up so tightly as to 

 hurt it. It was rather savage at first, and tried to bite; but 

 when we had released it and given it two poles under the 

 verandah to hang upon, securing it by a short cord, 



