The Republican journal., 1869-07-01
NEW BOOKS.

The MALAY ARCHIPELAGO: THE LAxD OF lnE
ORANG-UrAS AND THE BIRD OF PARApIs4 A
NARRATIVE OF TRAVEL. BY Alfred Russell Wallace
New York: Harper Brothers.
This is q handsomely printed and illustrated
volume Of over 600 octave pages It i a
narrative of the travels, observation ANA ld-
ventures of the author, an enthusiastic Eng
Ish naturalist in the group Of tropical is
lands lying between Asia and Australia. ,lur-
ing a period Of eight years. 1t is Il region
rich in animal, vegetable and insect produc-
tion-the very paradise of an enthusiastic
observer and hunter like the author lie
passed the period in wandering trom island
to island. associating with the natives and
be far from the trearherotlS and blood-thilsty
savages that they have been Represented, but
possessing many virtues that more civilized
might have reason to be proud Of. After his
long sOiourn, Mr. Wallace returned with his
stores of curiosities, specimens Of natural
history, &c, and the notes from which this
book is written
This is the country OF the oranG-ulan or
gigantic ape, called in the old biographies
and natural histories the Wild Man ul the
Woods. One of the purposes of the al,-
thor was to study this animal in his native
haunts. or course TO acquire a knowledge
of his physical structure it was necessary to
get near him. and rs the getting near living
one was = tlinc dangerous ii became neres-
sary to use the gun. The animal is called by
the natives tie iii,,>. We make some ca
tracts descriptive of encounters with these
creatures
"Only four days alerwarl some Dyaks saw ano-
thcr mias near the same place, and came To tell me.
We found it to be n rather large one. very high up
on tall tree. At the second shot il tell, rolling
over. but almost Immediately got up again and be-
gan to climb. At third shot it fell dead. This
was also n full grown-grOwn female, ana while pre-
pairing to carry ii home, we found Young one face
downward i'll the bog. This little creature was
only about a foot long. and had evidently been
hanging TO its mother when she first fell. Luckily
1t did not Al near to have been wounded. and after
we had cleaned the mud ont of its mouth it began
to cry out, and seemed quite strong and active.
While carrying ii home it got its hands in my beard,
and grasped 50 tightly that had great difficulty in
getting free for the fingers habtually bent in
ward at the last Joint as to form complete hooks.
AT this time it had not single tooth. but few days
atterward it cut its two lower front teeth. Unor-
tunately, had no milk to give it, as neither Maays,
Chinese, nor Dyaks ever use the article and in
vain inquired for any female animal that could
suckle my little infant. was therefore obliged to
give it rice-water from bottle with quill in the
cork, which after few trials it learned suck very
We'll. This was very meagre diet and the little
creature did not thrive well on it. although | added
sugar and cocOa-nut milk occasionally, to make it
more nourishing. When | put my finger in its
mouth, it sucked with great vigor, drawing in its
cheeks with all its might in the vain effort to en-
tract some milk, and only after persevering a long
time would it give up in disgust. and set up scream
very like thut of a baby in similar circumstances.
hen handled or nllrsed, it was very quiet and
contented. but when laid down by itself would in
Varlaby cry and for the first few nights WAS very
restless and noisy. | fitted up u little box for II
cradle, with 4 soft mat for it to lie upon, which was
changed and washed every day. and soon found
it necessary to wash the little mias well. Atter
had done few times, it came to like the opera
ton, and as it was dirty would begin cry
ing, and not leave off till took it out and carried
il to the spout, when ii Immediately became quiet,
although it would Vince little at the first rush Of
cold water and make ridicuouSly wry faces while
the stream was running over its head. 1t enjoyed
the wiping and rubbing dry amazingly and when
brushed its hair seemed to be perfectly happy. lying
quite still, with its arms and legs stretched out
while thoroughly brushed the long hair of its back
and arms. For the first few days it clung desper-
ateIy with all four hands to whatever it could Inv
hold of, and l had to he careful to keep NV heard
out of its way, rs the fingers clutched hold of hair
more tenaciously than any thing else, and it was
impossible to free myself without assistance When