278 BEASTS AND MEN 
in the various pranks and tricks which they play, the orangs 
merely following him out of friendship. One of his favourite 
tricks is to snatch hats from ladies and gentlemen who have 
come to look at him, and then retire with his booty to a gym- 
Diogenes. 
nastic pole fixed in his cage. In order to carry out this 
knavish trick he has to exercise a remarkable degree of cun- 
ning. He takes advantage of a habit, which the orangs have 
acquired, of holding out their hands to greet visitors when 
they come up. Sitting quietly near the front of the cage he 
