THE ORANG-OUTAN. 
27 
Our best insight into the habits of animals is generally gained by watching the actions 
of a single individual, and these biographies are usually found to be most interesting. An 
admirable description has been given by Dr. Abel of the young Orang-outan, which has been 
already mentioned. 
At first the ape was put into a cage, but he broke the bars and got out. Then he was 
chained, but he detached the chain from the staple, and finding that the heavy links incom- 
moded him, he coiled the chain round his shoulder, and to prevent it from slipping, held the 
end in his mouth. As he always succeeded in escaping from his bonds, his keepers made a 
virtue of necessity, and permitted him to enjoy the full range of the vessel. Among the ropes 
he was quite at home, and, trusting to his superior activity, was accustomed to take liberties 
with the sailors, and then escape among the ropes. One very curious trait in his character 
must be given in the words of the narrator. 
“ Although so gentle when not exceedingly irritated, the Orang-outan could be excited to 
violent rage, which he expressed by opening his mouth, showing his teeth, and seizing and 
biting those who were near him. 
“ Sometimes, indeed, he seemed almost driven to desperation ; and on two or three occa- 
sions committed an act which in a rational being would have been called the threatening of 
suicide. If repeatedly refused an orange when he attempted to take it, he would shriek 
violently and swing furiously about the ropes, then return and endeavor to obtain it. If again 
refused, he would roll for some time like an angry child upon the deck, uttering the most 
piercing screams ; and then, suddenly starting up, rush furiously over the side of the ship 
and disappear. 
“On first witnessing this act, we thought that he had thrown himself into the sea ; but 
on a search being made, found him concealed under the chains.” 
He learned artificial tastes of civilization, and preferred tea and coffee to water. Tastes 
less natural and more to be regretted soon followed, for he took to drinking wine, and was so 
fond of spirituous liquids, that he was detected in stealing the captain’s brandy-bottle. This 
interesting animal survived the English climate for about eighteen months, and then succumbed 
to the usual foe of the monkey race. The fatal issue of the disease was probably promoted 
by the shedding of his teeth. 
In its native woods, the Orang-outan seems to be an unsocial animal, delighting not in 
those noisy conversaziones which rejoice the hearts of the gregarious monkeys and deafen the 
ears of their neighbors. It does not even unite in little bands of eight or ten as do many 
species, but leads a comparatively eremitical existence among the trees, sitting in dreamy 
indolence on the platform which it weaves, and averse to moving unless impelled by hunger, 
anger, or some motive equally powerful. When it does move, it passes with much rapidity 
from tree to tree, or from one branch to another by means of its long limbs, and launches 
itself through a considerable distance, if the space between the branches be too great for its 
reach of arm. 
It has already been mentioned that the adult Orang is a sullen and ferocious animal. It 
is almost totally animal in character ; there is hardly any space for the brain ; the head is sur- 
mounted with heavy ridges of bone, showing the great strength of the muscles that are attached 
to them ; the lower part of the face and the jaws projects greatly, and, in fine, the skull is 
almost wholly made up of face, jaws, and bony ridges. The teeth, too, are very formidable. 
The hair of the Orang-outan is of a reddish chestnut hue, deepening here and there into 
brown. The texture of the hair is coarse, and its length varies according to the part of the 
body on which it is placed. Over the face, back, breast, shoulders, and arms, it falls in thick 
profusion, becoming especially long at the elbow- joint, where the hairs of the upper and fore* 
arm meet. The face is partly covered with a beard, which seems to increase in size as the 
animal grows older. The hair of the face takes a lighter tinge of red than that of the body, 
and merges the red or auburn tint in the brown, on the inside of the limbs. 
At a little distance, the face appears to be black ; but if examined closely is found to 
present a bluish tint. 
The Mias-kassar is similar to the_ Mias-pappan in general appearance, and color of hair ; 
