The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-31
MY PET.
A Small Orang- Outang and His
Amusing Tricks.

for he is. I hope, important enough to
admit of my dispensing with the neu-
ter gender-I am sure you would not
succeed in guessing. Well. then, 1
may as well tell you that he is a small
orang- outang, or what should perhaps
be more correctly termed ''gibbon. !"
There are not few who do not know
what gibbon is. Let those in igno-
rance of what a funny little animal he
is, turn to that entertaining work called
Woods Natural History, where they
will find the gibbOn most accurately
described. At the time, however, that
the work alluded to was written, the
gibbon of the island of Hainan in the
China sea) was unknown, and is not
therefore described in it. The white
faced gibbon of the Straits is men
toned; but his jet-black relative with
bushy hair and handsome face was left
out. What true prize black gibbon
is! Most affectionate in his nature,
possessed of pleasing voice and win
ming ways, he is truly a good compan-
ion.
My Office. in the last port where [
was stationed, looked over the sea,
and had a veranda outside it, which of
course was kept sacred. was sitting
one day in my office-chair, looking out
over the bay beyond, to collect my
thoughts for dispatch then in hand,
when l espied a Celestial coming along
the veranda with some dark object in
his arms, the dark object showing its
appreciation of the attention it was re-
ceiying by placing two arms of inordi-
nate length round the mans neck. 1
naturally rose up to see what thi5 phe-
noplenon was, and having been told
that it was rare animal, at once
made overtures for his purchase. As
soon as negotiations were concluded, l
fastened my purchaser black gibbon
to my copying-press, instead of send
ing him up to my house, being anxious
to introduce him myself to my two
dogs and to Joseph the cat. l could
not entrust a rare animal to my serv-
ants, lest the introduction through
their agency to Joseph and the rest
might result in some disaster. When
[ fastened the gibbon to the press
took no account of the length of the ami
mails arms, and was therefore not a
little surprised when a black hand took
possession of red-and-blue pencil and
black mouth began to eat it. Nature
is said, in her benefcence, to instruct
the lower animals what to eat and
what to avoid. That, no doubt, ap-
plies to an animal in the wild state,
such animal being directed by instinct
where to find an antidote to any thing
deleterious which it may have eaten.
An animal in captivity must, however.
be treated differently, and must not be
allowed to do as it likes. So reasoned;
and as had no herb ready to correct
the evil which I knew would result
from eating a pencil, proceeded to
recover the stolen article. Though nv
new pet did not mind being touched,
though he would jump into your lap
and make himself at home, he strongly
objected to part with any thing which
he had once got hold of, and a good
deal of diplomacy had to be used be-
fore repossessed myself of the pencil.
Scarcely was this fun at an end. be-
fore some black fingers were dipped
into the ink; and when the ink was re-
moved out of reach, the gum-bottle
was next turned over. the gum being
particularly appreciated. Thinking
that the animal might be thirsty, put
saucer of water before him; but
though easy to put the saucer down, it
was impossible to pick it up again.
even though there was not a drop of
water left in it. It seemed to me. on
reflection, that I had made bad pur-
chase. did not clearly see how was
to feed an animal that was so intract-
able, and l had serious misgivings that
my new pet would give me lot of
trouble, and quite likely would die in
three months. Monkeys are general
~ supposed to be troubled either with
heart-disease or with consumption.
and to endure captivity for a short
time only. Thus, l had given my glib
bon three Eaonths, to live. and fully
expected That before tour months mao
passed he would be under a glass case
in my drawing-room. lam extremely
pleased to say that, at the time I write
he is still alive. though must con-
TESS it has not been easy to rescue him
from the jaws of death on several oc-
casions.
At first, the name of "Sambo" was
given to the gibbon, on account of its
Jet-bl color; then this was changed
In course of time to Samuel" the
little fellow becoming too respectable
to be called Sambo. At the last port
at which l was stationed the lower
windows OF my dwels;ug-house were
provided with iron bars-about i've
inches apart-as protection against
thieves. These bars were great con-
venience to me, as could attach Sam
to them at meal times, thus keeping
MIN out OF mischief whilst giving him
plenty OF freedom. The question of
feeding Sam was not an easy one to
tackle. 1t We sat down and began
eating before he was served, the most
noisy protests were made; and when
the saucer of rice was put down, there
was no one courageous enough to re-
cover the empty saucer The point
vas often settled by Sam himself, who.