90 



A NEW HISTORY OF 



outang in a tree, and having seen a full display 

 of its awkwardness, and apparent want of confi- 

 dence, after it had descended to the ground ; I 

 pronounced it, within my mind, to be an absolutely 

 arboreal animal, in every sense of the word : nor 

 shall the collected writings of all authors, modern 

 as well as ancient, who have given us detailed 

 and positive accounts of this great ape"s achieve- 

 ments on the ground, ever convince me to the 

 contrary. This interesting " wild man of the 

 woods " died when least expected to have been in 

 danger ; and an unforeseen event, deprived me 

 of an opportunity to examine its remains. 



Here, with the courteous reader's leave, I will 

 avail myself, once more, and for the last time, of a 

 short dialogue betwixt myself and this departed 

 ape ; although I am fully aware, that such a mode 

 of imparting zoological knowledge, is quite beneath 

 the notice of our sages who are all for solemn 

 science ; still, I venture to hope, that a little 

 deviation from the ordinary tract of writing, will 

 be pardoned by them ; and possibly may tend to 

 avert an attack of drowsiness on the part of the 

 reader, whilst the book is placed open on the table 

 before him. 



DIALOGUE. 



" Tell me, interesting ape from Borneo, are you 



