Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Being the journal of a naturalist in those countries, during 1832, 1833 and 1834Bennett, George
History
Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Being the journal of a naturalist in those countries, during 1832, 1833 and 1834
Bennett, George
Asia -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Description and travel
When he walks in the erect posture, he turns the leg and foot outwards,
which occasions him to have a waddling gait and to seem bow-legged.
He would pace the deck, being held by his long arm; and then had a
resemblance to a child just learning to step. The limbs, from their
muscular and strong prehensile power, render the animal a fit inhabitant
for the forest; enabling him to spring from tree to tree with an agility
that we have frequently witnessed him display about the rigging of the
ship: he would pass down the backstays, sometimes hanging by his hands,
at others walking down them in the erect posture, like a rope-dancer,
balancing himself by his long arms; or he would spring from one rope at a
great distance to another, or would drop from one above to another below.
Being aware of his inability to escape pursuit, when running on a level
surface, his first object, when about to make an attack, was to secure
a rope, and swing towards the object he was desirous of attacking; if
defeated, he eluded pursuit by climbing out of reach.
He has an awkward manner of drinking, by which the liquid is much wasted:
he first applies his lips to the liquid, throwing the head up, which in
some degree may be attributed to the prominency of the lower jaw: and if
the vessel in which the liquid is contained should be shallow, he dips
the paw into it, and holding it over the mouth, lets the liquid drop in.
I never observed him lap with the tongue when drinking; but when tea or
coffee was given to him, the lingual organ was carefully protruded for
the purpose of ascertaining its temperature. This display of caution was
not confined to this species of ape, as I know of several others which
will do the same, when hot tea or coffee is given to them; shaking their
sapient head violently, if they are heated by the liquid; but still,
undeterred, will wait patiently until the hot liquid becomes sufficiently
cool for bibulary purposes.
He soon knew the name of Ungka, which had been given to him, and would
readily come to those to whom he was attached when called by that
name. His mildness of disposition and playfulness of manner made him a
universal favourite with all on board.
He was playful, but preferred children to adults. He became particularly
attached to a little Papuan child (Elau, a native of Erromanga, one of
the New Hebrides group,) who was on board, and whom it is not improbable
he may have in some degree considered as having an affinity to his
species. They were often seen sitting near the capstan, the animal with
his long arm round her neck, lovingly eating biscuit together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account