The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-20

Of the rudimentary state Of certain ligamen-
tous structures, possess great freedom Of mo-
ton; in fact, have nearly as much move
ment as the arms ] have seem says Horn
aday, my little pet orang hang 10 a rope with
one arm at an angle Of fully 20 degrees and,
with the greatest comfort imaginable, reach mp
with his leg at the same angle and grasp the
rope with his foot" At the same time, when
mature, this animal is slow and somewhat awk-
ward in its motions. Progression is always
upon
ALL FOUR LIMBS,
and in travelling il goes from bough 10 Dough,
reaching out and grasping those in front with
ITS long arms and then swinging itself heavily
forward
Orangs' nests, as they are called, consist OF
small branches aud twigs broken from the iuli-
age on either side Of the proposed resting place,
and consequently the materials are placed
crosswise in the top Of the selected sapling or
fork OF some tree. Their resting places are
constructed as occasion requires, and never
occupied after the leaves have withered and
the surface has become harsh. As a rule these
nests are placed from % 20 40 feet above the
ground; they are three or four feet in diameter,
and never covered in any way from the
weather, although during the rainy season,
when the fruit upon the uplands is green, and
these apes come down 20 river valleys they pro-
placing few small branches over their heads.
Adult and old males are very quarrelsome,
and fight with each other upon all occasions
From pecuiarities Of its construction this
creature finds ii easier TO bring some part Of an
encmy's person within reach Of its teeth than
10 seize foe in the usual manner Of animals
On this account these battles commonly cause a
loss Of fingers or toes, and sometimes the upper
lip is laccrated, or even torn away, by the
tangs OF anniversaries. An orang four feet two
inches high Will weigh from 100 "a l60 pounds
according 10 circumstances. Owing 10 the cal
lOsities on its checks the face Of such an ape
would be about ia inches broad or might be
even broader as Wallace supposes If il were
very old. IL is apparent from their frames
that they possess
GREAT STRENGTH,
more especially Of the arms and there is
nothing incredible 10 a zoologist in what is
related Of one Of these creatures in Edgar POe's
dramatic story of the Rue M0rgue, except the
nervous agitation which the brute displayed at
the appearance Of its master upon the scene Of
murder.
As is the case with all other species Of anthro-
poids the orang's likeness 10 man grows less
with age. IL is not that It's parts are in any
wise altered in composition, but that the osseous
system at large fully develops its massive pro-
portions and for the reason that all the processes
for the attachment Of muscles are enlarged:
but most of all because the external table Of
the skull evolves with reference 10 the motor
apparatus rather than with relation TO its brain.
No authentic account Of aggressive action TO-
ward human beings upon the part Of this ape
has come TO the writer's notice, but when
brought 10 bay il will defend itself desperately
with both arms and teeth, and, DIR. Hartmann
says, with missiles Also like Cynocephalus Celia
da, HRmadryas and other species Of balloons
With respect 20 each other and toward the
wild animals Of its habitat, Simia Wurmbii
and Satyrus exhibit much ferocity. and the
authority just referred 10 informs ms that their
powers Of oHeHse make them more than "A
match for either the crocodile or those great
constructor serPents who inhabit the Bornese
Jungles. For the most part, however, an old
male orang is a very sedate, not TO say
PHLEGMATIC AND MELANCHOLY,
animal; shy, given 10 solitude and without
trace Of the Tcstlessness, curiosity aud viva
ciousncss by which chimpauzces are dstin-
guished.
These apes very commonly die from pulmon-
airy disease outside the tropics, before or about
the period at which they reach maturity. But
during their childhood and youth we have
many accounts Of their socabiity, gentleness
aud Intelligence. Most nRtuFalists seem 10 re-
gard the variability Of oranrs as matched only
by that Of man, aud the other side Of this PC
cuiiar Elasticity, If IL be true. is displayed in
varied manifestation Of mental development
which Is unoqualud among smians From
their confidence, docllity aud great facility of
comprehension" says Frederic Cuvier they
acquire without difficulty all the actions 10
which their organization is not opposed"
BufOn confirms this statement, aud illus
trates II from personal observation, having seen,
as he assures Us, creatures Of this species per.
form the duties OF well-traincd domestics. or
IN another capacity conduct themselves M IA bic
1T a.fys fI.s.s.s l.
Those kept az the Jardin des Plantes in the
time OF Floureus became, according 10 him, very
lOnd OF the children who constantly visited
( them, and initiated their behavior exactly.
The Missionary COubasson was shocked while
preaching by the undevout aspect Of his con-
gregatlon, and reprOved them for irreverence
Matters grew worse, however, the more vehe-
ment he became, until
RUSHING OUT OF THE PULPIT
with true Gallo yehemence. he saw his net
orang who had been initiating every action.
escaping from the premises. On one occasion
when Dr. Able shut up a dOmesticated animal
OF TINS species for punishment, its cries at
/ tTacted him 10 the spot, and be witnessed I'M
seen its subsequent and successful efforts 10
escape. These were devised with the sagacity
OF an experienced criminal, and showed a com
] plcte comprehension Of the situation. The
same oranR while on board shin pretended 70
1 dcspise all those small monkeys that were be-
1 ing brought TO England, and 10 be unconscious
\ OF their existence. Nevertheless. whenever
opportunity served, be caught one Of them, aud
/ conveying II sl0it, made It's toilet in perfect
imitation Of nurses procedure under like cir
! cumstauces.
Comparisons between the relative iHtelli-
! gcnce OF animals are for several reasons i'm
! perfect, and the differences which have been
4 drawn from observations made 10 this end be-
4 tray IN many instances a very incomplete prep
aTation upon the part Of the observers. Dir.
/ franklin points out that parallels between
dogs aud Orang outaHs must be false, because
] the latter are always wild animals. and there
fore devoid Of the inherited culture Of the
former. Mcnault, probably. goes beyond any.
4 BODY but the ordinary newspaper contributor
. 10 anecdotes OF brute sBgacity, in his story Of
an ape Of this kind who had been robbed of an
embroidered cap by some Partisan rough y
and who lew al tie thief in a rage and con.
uuued bis assault until the police arrived
This our authority regards in the light OF an
arrest upon the 0rangs part aud supposcs il,
conduct TO have been prompted By a full IN,
dersiandlBR Of the rights Of property which
bad been violated well as By a knowledge oi
those projections 10 individuals provided by
law.
photographs Of the SRtional Cemetery a.