286 
OURANG-OUTANGS. 
The traveller observes with astonishment, cattle and houses 
on the points of rocks apparently accessible to the birds alone. 
The village of Ardetenkata, to which we went, is in so 
elevated a position, and the roads conducting to it are so 
difficult, that if a tremendous storm had not soaked our 
clothes and cooled the air, I should never have reached it. 
June 17th. In passing through the woods which cover 
these heights, I heard the cries of the ourang-outangs, which 
induced me to remain there during the heat of the day 
to see some of these animals. They are very common in these 
parts, but so wild, that I could not obtain a sight of one ; the 
cry of this ape varies according to the causes which produce 
it, but generally resembles the barking'of a small spaniel. This 
animal has no tail ; it browzes the grass in the meadows ; at 
a distance it might be taken for a goat ; every day it builds 
a new hut with the branches of the trees on which it fixes 
itself ; it is dangerous to meet this beast, especially if a person 
be unarmed. The Negroes told me, that it is no uncommon 
thing for these apes to manifest an ardent passion for black 
women ; but this notion is not generally entertained. 
Whilst we were waiting until the heat of the day was 
over, the chief of a neighbouring village arrived, accompa- 
nied by his wives ; my people turned their backs to let them 
pass, and then went and shook hands with the chief, who was 
so enormously corpulent, that he could not walk without 
supporting himself on some person, He appeared much dis- 
