ORANG-OUTANG. 
32 1 
monkeys, nor possesses their perpetua] proneness to mischief. Gra- 
vity approaching to melancholy, and mildness, were sometimes 
strongly expressed in his countenance, and seem to be the charac- 
teristics of his disposition. When he first came amongst strangers, 
he would sit for hours with his hand upon his head, looking pensively 
at all around him ; or when much incommoded by their examina- 
tion, would hide himself beneath any covering that was at hand. His 
mildness was evinced by his forbearance under injuries, which were 
grievous before he was excited to revenge; but he always avoided 
those who often teazed him. He soon became strongly attached to 
those who kindly used him. By their side he was fond of sitting ; and 
getting as close as possible to their persons, would take their hands 
between his lips, and fly to them for protection. From the 
boatswain of the Alceste, who shared his meals with him, and was 
his chief favourite, although he sometimes purloined the grog and 
the biscuit of his benefactor, he learned to eat with a spoon ; and 
might be often seen sitting at his cabin-door enjoying his coffee, 
quite unembarrassed by those who observed him, and with a gro- 
tesque and sober air that seemed a burlesque on human nature. 
Next to the boatswain, I was perhaps his most intimate acquaint- 
ance. He would always follow me to the mast-head, whither I 
often went for the sake of reading apart from the noise of the ship ; 
and having satisfied himself that my pockets contained no eatables, 
would lie down by my side, and pulling a topsail entirely over him, 
peep from it occasionally to watch my movements. 
His favourite amusement in Java was in swinging from the branches 
of trees, in passing from one tree to another, and in climbing over 
the roofs of houses ; on board, in hanging by his arms from the 
ropes, and in romping with the boys of the ship. He would 
entice them into play by striking them with his hand as they passed, 
and bounding from them, but allowing them to overtake him and 
engage in a mock scuffle, in which he used his hands, feet, and 
mouth. If any conjecture could be formed from these frolicks of 
his mode of attacking an adversary, it would appear to be his first 
