ORANG-OUTANG. 
367 
supposed to be brought from Borneo. I venture to use the qualification, “ sup- 
posed,” in this place, although I have quoted these authors as describers of the 
Orang-Outang of Borneo in the text ; because, as it appears to me, there is a 
deficiency of that direct evidence, both in F. Cuvier’s and Tilesius’s account, 
which is necessary to fix the habitations of the animals which they describe. 
The former received his specimen from the Isle of France by the hands of 
M. Decaen, who stated that the animal had come there from * Borneo. 
Tilesius saw the animal that he has described at Macao, in the possession of 
the Portuguese governor, who believed that it had been brought from Bor- 
neo. f It is one amongst many objections to this hearsay evidence, that in the 
Eastern islands it is generally known that a species of Orang-Outang in- 
habits Borneo, and that when Europeans in the East see any monkey 
without a tail, they are liable to take for granted that it comes from that 
island; and unless induced by scientific notions, are not likely to take much 
pains in investigating the truth of their opinion. But till the accounts of tra- 
vellers respecting monkeys without tails, remarkable for their resemblance to 
man, and supposed to inhabit different parts of the East, as the t Fese 
of China and Golok § of Bengal, are disproved, it is necessary to be more 
cautious in determining the dwelling places of similar animals that may fall, 
under our notice. Taking for granted that there was only one animal which 
* Cet Orang-Outang arrival a Paris dans les commencement du mois de Mars 1 808. M. 
Decaen, capitaine general des lies de France et de Bourbon, l’avoit ramene de l’lsle-de- 
France, et en avoit fait hommage a Sa Majeste l’Imperatrice Josephine, dont le gout 
eclaire pour l’histoire naturelle a deja procure aceux qui selivrental’etudede cette science 
de si nombreux et de si rares sujets d’observations. Lorsqu’il arriva de Borneo a l’lsle-de- 
France, on assura qu’il n’avoit que trois mois; son sejour dans cette lie fut de trois mois; 
le vaisseau qui l’apporta en Europe mis trois mois a sa traversee ; il fut debarque en Espagne, 
et son voyage jusqu’ a Paris dura deux mois, d’ou il resulte qu’a la fin de l’hiver de 1 808 
il etoit age de dix a onze mois. Annales du Museum, tom. xvi. p. 51. 
-j- Tilesius, after enumerating some curiosities shown him by the Governor of Macao, 
and said to be brought from Borneo, states that he also saw a “ Jocko, or East Indian 
Orang-Outang, which was brought from the same island.” Manuscript translation of 
Appendix to Krusen stern’s Voyage. 
| “ The province of Fokien hath an animal perfectly resembling man but longer armed, 
and hairy all over, called Fese, most swift and greedy after human flesh ; which, that he may 
the better take his prey, he feigneth a laughter, and suddenly, while the person stands lis- 
tening, seizeth upon him.” Nieuhoff’s China, Ogilby’s translation, folio, 2d edition, p. 413. 
§ The only authentic figure and description of the Golok by De Visme, is published in 
the 59th volume of the Philosophical Transactions. 
*3 a 4 
