230 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



shelly covering has numerous joints, by which it can vary its 

 form according to the movements of the animal. Its head, 

 snout, and ears, are very much like those of a pig, its tail is 

 thick near the body, where there are several rings> that gra- 

 dually taper to a point ; its feet are short and covered by scales, 

 each fore foot has four toes, and each hind foot five. This 

 animal burrows in the sandy hills distant from the sea ; when 

 young, its flesh is very tender and delicate, but when old, it 

 has a strong disagreeable taste. 



Animals of the ape kind are very numerous and various in 

 this part of the world. 



According to the account of the natives, the oran-outang is 

 to be met with in the woods, and is much larger than that of 

 Africa or Asia, being live feet high. But these accounts 

 merely depend upon the evidence of the natives, as one of 

 these animals has never been seen by any European. 



There is an ape commonly called a quato, which is about 

 two feet in length. Its face is bald, but its body is covered 

 with black hair; it has a nose like that of a negro, large ears 

 like the human, and deeply sunken eyes ; it has no tail. 

 The quato is sometimes tamed, but notwithstanding, is very 

 mischievous. The female menstruates regularly. 



