TREE-HUTS OF THE WARAUS. 161 



diameter, and is tolerably circular, so that it looks something 

 like a large umbrella. When the animal is at rest it sits on the 

 branch with one arm thrown round the stem of the tree, in 

 order to support itself during sleep. In consequence of this 

 attitude the hair is rubbejl away on one side, thus earning for 

 the ape the specific title of calvus, or bald. 



It is rather remarkable that the Orang-outan of Borneo is 

 likewise a house-builder, though not in the same manner as 

 the African ape which has just been mentioned. This animal 

 has a way of weaving together the branches of trees, so as to 

 make a platform on which it can repose, its enormously power- 

 ful arms being of great service in this task. The animal seems 

 to make its platform in quite a mechanical manner, and it has 

 been noticed that when an Orang-outan has been mortally 

 wounded, it has expended its last energies in twisting the 

 branches together so as to form a couch on which it can lie 

 down and die. 



Putting aside those cases where huts have been erected in 

 trees by way of amusement, we may find instances where human 

 beings have been forced to make their habitations in trees. 



In some places, such as certain parts of South America, 

 the natives are forced to make their houses in trees, partly on 

 account of the climate, and partly for the purpose of avoiding 

 the mosquitoes. 



The delta of the Orinoco River is nearly half as large as 

 England, and for a considerable part of the year is deep in 

 water. Yet this tract is inhabited by the Warau tribe, who 

 find in it their only mode of escape from the tiny but terrible 

 mosquito. "We in England know but little of the miseries 

 inflicted by these insects, which are so plentiful in some parts 

 of America that they are gathered in bags, pressed into thick 

 cakes about as large as ordinary dinner- plates, and an inch in 

 thickness, and then cooked and eaten. 



Now it is found that although the mosquito infests the 

 banks of rivers, it cannot venture far from land. The Waraus, 

 therefore, make for themselves habitations which are far 

 enough from land to baffle the mosquitoes, and near enough 

 to be easily reached in canoes. 



M 



