320 
ORANG-OUTANG. 
Orang-Outang* is a Malay phrase, signifying “ wild man,” and, 
should therefore be restricted to the animal, which, according to our 
present information, is found exclusively on Borneo. The portrait in 
the next page will give a correct notion of his general characters, and 
assist the description. It was taken soon after his arrival in this 
country, when his hair was longer than it now is in consequence of a 
disease in the skin. 
The present height of the animal, judging from his length when 
laid on a flat surface, and measured from his heel to the crown of 
his head, is two feet seven inches. 
The hair of the, Orang-Outang is of a brownish red colour, and 
covers his back, arms, legs, and outside of his hands and feet. On 
the back it is in some places six inches long, and on his arms five. 
It is thinly scattered over the back of his hands and feet, and is very 
short. It is directed downwards on the back, upper arm and legs, 
and upwards on the fore arm. It is directed from behind forwards 
on the head, and inwards on the inside of the thighs. The face has 
no hair except on its sides, somewhat in the manner of whiskers, and 
a very thin beard. The middle of the breast and belly was naked on 
his arrival in England, but has since become hairy. The shoulders, 
elbows, and knees, have fewer hairs than other parts of the arms and 
legs. The palms of the hands and feet are quite naked. 
The prevailing colour of the animal’s skin, when naked or seen 
through the hair, is a bluish gray. The eyelids and margin of the 
mouth are of a light copper colour. The inside of his hands and 
feet are of a deep copper colour. Two copper-coloured stripes pass 
from the armpits down each side of the body as low as the navel. 
The head viewed in front, is pear-shaped, expanding from the 
chin upwards, the cranium being much the larger end. The eyes 
are close together, of an oval form, and dark brown colour. The 
* I use this mode of spelling in conformity with general usage, although Orang-Utan 
would, according to the high authority of Mr. Marsden, be more correct orthography. 
See History of Sumatra, p. 117- 
