Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-05-31
MY PET.
A Small Orang- Outang and His
Amusing Tricks.

WIN, my pcb 49, vi TdlHeT WHo ITO 10
for he is. hope. important enough to
admit Of my dispensing with the neu
ter gender-I am sure you would not
succeed in guessing. Well. then. |
may as well tell you that he is 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 funny little animal he
is, turn to that entertaining work called
Woods Natural History, whore 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 Gin the
China sea) was unknown, and is not
therefore described in it. The white
faced gibbon of the Straits is mem
toned; but his jet-blach relative with
bushy hair and handsome face was left
out What n 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 n dispatch then in hand,
when espied Celestial coming along
the veranda with some dark object in
his arms, the dark object showing its
appreciation Of the attention it was re-
ceiving by placing two arms of inordi-
nate length round the mans neck. |
naturally rose up to see what this phe-
nomenon was, and having been told
that it WIS u rare animal, | at once
made overtures for his purchase. As
soon as negotiations We're concluded, |
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. | could
not entrust 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 Il
little surprised when II black hand took
possession of II rcd-and-blue pencil and
a black mouth began to eat it. Nature
is said, in her benehcence, to instruct
the lower animals what to eat and
what to avoid. That, no doubt, APP
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, aud must not be
allowed to do as it likes. SO reasoned;
and AS | had no herb ready to correct
the evil which | knew would result
from eating pencil, | proceeded to
recover the stolen article. Though my
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 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
t into the ink; arfd when the ink was re-
moved out OF reach, tho 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. il
) was impossible to pick it up again,
even though there was not drop Of
water left in it. 1t seemed to me, or
l reflection. that had made a bad pur.
chase did not clearly see how was
to feed an animal that was so intract-
} able, and had serious misgivings that
; my new pet would give me lot o.
trouble, and quite likely would die il
three months. Monkeys are general
ly supposed to be troubled either with
heart-disease or with consumption
and to endure captivity for shorr
: time only. Thus. had given my glib
bon three c,.2nths to live, and fully
/, expected ina. before tour months mao
passed he would be under a glass case
In my drawing-room. am extremely
pleased to say that, at the time | write
he is still alive, though | must con
fess it has not been easy to rescue hin
from the Jaws of death on several oc
casions.
At first, the name of "Sambo" wa!
given to the gibbon, on account Of it
jet-black color; then this was changed
in course of time to Samuel" thu
little fellow becoming too respectable
to be called Sambo. AT the last por
at which | was stationed the lowe
windows of my dwelGug-house wer
provided with iron bars-about five
inches apart-as protection agains
thieves. These bars were great con
venience to me, as | could attach San
to them at meal times, thus keeping
him out of mischief whilst giving hin
plenty of freedom. The question o
feeding Sam was not an easy one t.
3 tackle. 1t we sat down and begal
= eating before he was served, the mos
noisy protests were made; and whel
, the saucer of rice was put down, Their
was no one courageous enough to re
rOvaa tho aD,nfyy sanaar The nOiQ