AARON 147 



touch of the human that no one could fail to observe. The 

 range of facial expression surpassed that of any other 

 animal I have ever studied. In repose his quaint face wore 

 a look of wisdom becoming to a sage ; while in play it was 

 crowned with a grin of genuine mirth. The deep, search- 

 ing look he gave to a stranger was a study for the psychol- 

 ogist. The serious, earnest look of inquiry when he was 

 perplexed would have amused a stoic. All these changing 

 moods were depicted in his mobile face with such intensity 

 as to leave no room to doubt the activity of certain facul- 

 ties of the mind to a degree far beyond that of animals in 

 general ; and his conduct in many instances showed the 

 exercise of mental powers of a higher order than that lim- 

 ited agency known as instinct. In addition to these facts, 

 his voice was of better quality and more flexible than that 

 of any other specimen I have ever known. It was clear 

 and smooth in uttering sounds of any pitch within its scope, 

 while the voices of most of them are inclined to be harsh 

 or husky, especially in sounds of high pitch. 



Before leaving the village where I secured him, I made a 

 kind of sling for him to be carried in. It consisted of a 

 short canvas sack, having two holes cut in the bottom for 

 his legs to pass through. To the top of this was attached 

 a broad band of the same cloth by which to hang it over 

 the head of the carrier boy to whom the little prisoner was 

 consigned. This afforded the ape a comfortable seat, and 

 at the same time reduced the labor of carrying him. It left 

 his arms and legs free, so he could change his position and 

 rest, while it also allowed the boy the use of his own hands 

 in passing any difficult place in the jungle along the way. 



