The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-07-26
THEORANC.OUTANC.

THE ORANC-OUTANC.
"The Geological Society, London,
have again been very fortunate IN ob-
tanning two Orang-outangs. Ihese
interesting beasts are now accommo-
dated with apartments in the keeper
room adjoining the monkey house.
They are very funny and about as big
as a human baby just beginning to
walk. They sit in their box surround
ed with flannels, and nestle one against
each other like the babes in the wood.
Their features areeXceedlngly human;
in fact, have seen many human faces
that are much less human IN appearance
than these infantine catarrhlnes, or
apes of the old continent. They are
covered with hair, long and scanty,
and of deep chestnut red. The ears
are very small and well shaped. The
orbits of the eyes prominent; the eyes
very bright and observant: no eyelash-
es, but the eyelids are surrounded by
a few stiff hairs. The fOrearms are
much longer than the legs; all the
hairs of the forearm point towards
the elbow, where they unite with
those of the humerus, and end III
point. The fingers are very long; III
fact, the hand is more like foot. The
thumb is placed parallel with the TN
gers, and is not of the same service to
the animal as the human thumb. All
the fingers have nails of q blacklSh
color and oval form, but | believe
some have no nailon the thumb.
sIt is very funny to see the orang
try to walk upright. When he is put
on the floor he manages to progress by
placing his bent fists upon the ground
and drawing his body between his
arms. When moving in this manner.
he strongly resembles cripple walk
ing Oh crutches. In Il state Of nature,
he probably seldom moves along the
ground; his whole configuration show
ing his fitness for climbing trees and
clinging to their branches. The
length and pliability Of his fingers and
toes enable him to grasp with facility
and steadiness; and the force Of his
muscles empowers him to support his
body for great length Of time by one
hand or foot. He can thus pass from
one fixed object to another, at the
distance of his reach from each other
and can obviously pass from one branch
of tree to another, through much
greater interval. In sitting on a flat
surface, this animal turns his legs I'M
der him. In sitting on the branch OF
a tree, or on a rope, he rests ON his
heels, his body leaning forward
against his thigh. This animal uses
his hands like others of the monkey
tribe.
1.-The orangs, as they sit in theil
box. look exceedingly grave and Sc
: date. They have somewhat the
r physiognomy of an eastern prince who
: has no end of riches and nothing par
: ticular to do, yet fond of being amused
! by other people. l expect their intel
lgence is very great. 1t is a very ole
) story that monkeys can talk it the.
Y like. but won't because they would b.
5 made to work. 1t would indeed be ;
e wonderful thing if we could get ON
r of these Orangs to articulate even
single word; and [ should much hk'
j. the opinion of one of the clever pro
e fessors who teach the deaf and dumb
Q people to articulale words.
j. 1T is a curious fact that the adul
animals are never taken, or [ bellev
e even seen, while the young ones at
t comparatively common. The parent
J. are. believe, immense fellows. grow
# ing between five and six feet. In tn
t sAsiatic Researches DR.. Abel give
:, an account of a large orang havin
s been killed by the officers of the bri
e Mary Ann Sophia, who had landed
:. procure water at place called Ran
l. boon, near Touraman on the northwes
: coast of Sumatra. This apparitiol
# when moving, had the appearance c
d tall manlike figure, covered wit
D, shining brown hair, walking cree
v with waddling gait. They manage
d to hunt him to place where thel
le were few trees, and they were oblige
n to cut down the trees before the
IS could drive him to fight on the groun,
Is 1t is stated by those who aided in b
h death that the human-like expressiC
of his countenance. and the piteol
Of manner of placing his hands over h
d. wounds. ditressed their feelings, al
s. almost made them question the natu
k of the act they were committin
" When dead. both natives and Eur
le peans contemplated his figure Wi
k. amazement. His statute at the vel
ty smallest computation was six fee
N He was said to be full head tall
re than any man on board. measuril
d. seven feet in what might be called b
ordinary standing posture, and Gig
ne feet when suspended for the purpo
of being skinned.
ey 1T seems probable that the amin
w had travelled from some distance
ne the place where he was found. as b
or legs were covered with mud up to t
CHI knees, and he was considered as gre