KULU-KAMBAS 207 



This kulu-kamba knew the use of a corkscrew. This 

 knowledge she had acquired from seeing it applied by men. 

 While she could not use it herself with success, she often 

 tried, and she never applied it to a wrong purpose. She 

 would take the deck broom and scrub the deck, unless there 

 were water on it ; in that event she always left the job. 

 She did not seem to know the purpose of sweeping the 

 deck, and never swept the dirt before the broom. The 

 action was doubtless imitative. She only grasped the idea 

 that a broom was used to scrub the deck, but she failed to 

 observe the effect produced. However, it cannot be said 

 with certainty to what extent she was aware of the effect, 

 but it is inferred from the fact that she did not try to 

 remove the dirt. She knew what coal was intended for, 

 and she often climbed into the bunker and threw it down 

 by the furnace door. The furnace door and steam gauge 

 were two things that escaped her busy fingers. I do not 

 know how she learned the danger of them, but she never 

 touched them. She had to be watched to keep her from 

 seizing the machinery. For this she seemed to have a 

 strong desire, but did not know the danger she might 

 incur. 



I was aboard a ship when a trader brought off from the 

 beach a young kulu to be sent to England. The little cap- 

 tive sat upright on the deck and seemed aware that he was 

 being sent away. At any rate, his face wore a look of 

 deep concern, as if he had no friend to whom he could 

 appeal. On approaching him I spoke to him, using his 

 own word for food. He looked up and promptly answered 

 it. He looked as if in doubt as to whether I was a big ape 



