8 ORAN OTAN. 



Its usual manner of walking was on all-fours, like 

 other apes ; but it could also walk on its two hind 

 feet only. One morning it got unchained, and we 

 beheld it with wonderful agility ascend the beams 

 and rafters of the building : it was not without some 

 pains that it was retaken, and we then remarked an 

 extraordinary muscular power in the animal ; the 

 assistance of four men being necessary, in order to 

 hold it in such a manner as to be properly secured. 

 During its state of liberty it had, amongst other 

 things, taken the cork from a bottle containing 

 some Malaga wine, which it drank to the last 

 drop, and had set the bottle in its place again. 

 It eat almost every thing which was given it ; but 

 its chief food was bread, roots, and especially 

 carrots ; all sorts of fruits, especially strawberries : 

 and appeared extremely fond of aromatic plants, 

 as parsley and its root. It also eat meat, both 

 boiled and roasted, as well as fish. It was not 

 observed to hunt for insects like other monkies ; 

 it was fond of eggs, which it broke with its teeth 

 and sucked completely ; but fish and roast meat 

 seemed its favourite food. It had been taught to 

 eat with a spoon and a fork: When presented 

 with strawberries on a plate, it was extremely 

 pleasant to see the animal take them up, one by 

 one, with a fork, and put them into its mouth, 

 holding, at the same time, the plate in the other 

 hand. Its common drink was water; but it also 

 very willingly drank all sorts of wine, and parti- 

 cularly Malaga. After drinking it wiped its lips, 

 and after eating, if presented with a tooth-pick, 



