ORANG-OUTANG. 
325 
Whilst in Java, he lodged in a large tamarind-tree near my 
dwelling ; and formed a bed by intertwining the small branches 
and covering them with leaves. During the day, he would lie 
with his head projecting beyond his nest, watching whoever might 
pass under, and when he saw any one with fruit, would descend to 
obtain a share of it. He always retired for the night at sun-set, or 
sooner if he had been well fed ; and rose with the sun, and visited 
those from whom he habitually received food. 
On board ship he commonly slept at the mast-head, after wrapping 
himself in a sail. In making his bed, he used the greatest pains 
to remove every thing out of his way that might render the surface on 
which he intended to lie uneven : and having satisfied himself with 
this part of his arrangement, spread out the sail, and lying down 
upon it on his back, drew it over his body. Sometimes I pre-occu- 
pied his bed, and teazed him by refusing to give it up. On these 
occasions he would endeavour to pull the sail from under me or 
to force me from it, and would not rest till I had resigned it. If 
it was large enough for both, he would quietly lie by my side. If 
all the sails happened to be set, he would hunt about for some 
other covering, and either steal one of the sailors’ jackets or shirts 
that happened to be drying, or empty a hammock of its blankets. 
Off the Cape of Good Hope he suffered much from a low tem- 
perature, especially early in the morning, when he would descend 
from the mast, shuddering with cold, and running up to any one of 
his friends, climb into their arms, and clasping them closely, derive 
warmth from their persons, screaming violently at any attempt to 
remove him. 
His food in Java was chiefly fruit, especially mangostans, of which 
he was excessively fond. He also sucked eggs with voracity, and 
often employed himself in seeking them. On board ship his diet 
was of no definite kind. He ate readily of all kinds of meat, and 
especially raw meat ; was very fond of bread, but always preferred 
fruits when he could obtain them. 
His beverage in Java was water ; on board ship, it was as diver- 
