An history of the earth: and animated nature: by Oliver Goldsmith. In eight volumes. ... [pt.4]

CHAP. VII. Of Animals of the Monkey Kind.

QUADRUPEDES may be considered as a numerous groupe, terminated on every side by some that but in part deserve the name. On one quarter we see a tribe covered with quills, or furnished with wings, that lift them among the inhabitants of air; on another, we behold a diversity cloathed with scales and shells, to rank with insects; and still, on a third, we see them descending into the waters, to live among the mute tenants of that element. We now come to a numerous tribe, that, leaving the brute creation, seem to make approaches even to humanity; that bear an aukward resemblance of the human form, and discover some faint efforts at intellectual sagacity.

Animals of the monkey class are furnished with hands instead of paws; their ears, eyes, eye-lids, lips, and breasts, are like those of man∣kind; their internal conformation also bears some distant likeness; and the whole offers a picture that may well mortify the pride of such as make their persons alone the principal object of their admiration.

These approaches, however, are gradual; and

some bear the marks of this our boasted form, more strongly than others.

In the Ape kind we see the whole external machine strongly impressed with the human like∣ness, and capable of the same exertions: these walk upright, want a tail, have fleshy posteriors, have calves to their legs, and feet nearly like ours.

In the Baboon kind we perceive a more distant approach to the human form; the quadrupede mixing in every part of the animal's figure: these generally go upon all fours; but some, when upright, are as tall as a man; they have short tails, long snouts, and are possessed of brutal fierceness.

The Monkey kind are removed a step fur∣ther: these are much less than the former, with tails as long, or longer than their bodies, and flattish faces.

Lastly, the Maki and Opassum kind, seem to lose all resemblance of the human figure, ex∣cept in having hands; their noses are length∣ened out, like those of quadrupedes, and every part of their bodies totally different from the human; however, as they grasp their food, or other objects, with one hand, which quadru∣pedes cannot do, this single similitude gives them an air of sagacity, to which they have scarce any other pretensions.

From this slight survey it may be easily seen

that one general description will not serve for animals so very different from each other: ne∣vertheless, it would be fatiguing to the last de∣gree, as their varieties are so numerous, and their differences so small, to go through a particular description of each. In this case it will be best to give an history of the foremost in each class; at the same time marking the distinctions in every species. By this we shall avoid a tedious repetition of similar characters, and consider the manners and the oddities of this phantastic tribe in general points of view; where we shall perceive how nearly they ap∣proach to the human figure, and how little they benefit by the approximation.

The foremost of the Ape kind is the Ourang Outang, or Wild Man of the Woods. This name seems to have been given to various ani∣mals, agreeing in one common character of walking upright, but coming from different countries, and of very different proportions and powers. The Troglodyte of Bontius, the Drill of Purchas, and the Pygmy of Tyson, have all received this general name; and have been ranked, by some naturalists, under one general description. If we read the accounts of many remote travellers, under this name we are presented with a formidable animal, from

six to eight feet high; if we examine the books of such as have described it nearer home, we find it a pigmy not above three. In this di∣versity we must be content to blend their va∣rious descriptions into one general account; observing, at the same time, that we have no reason to doubt any of their relations, although we are puzzled which to follow.

The Ouran Outang, which, of all other ani∣mals, most nearly approaches to the human race, is seen of different sizes, from three to seven feet high. In general, however, its sta∣ture is less than that of a man; but its strength and agility much greater. Travellers who have seen various kinds of these animals in their native solitudes, give us surprizing relations of their force, their swiftness, their address, and their ferocity. Naturalists who have observed their form and manners at home, have been as much struck with their patient, pliant, imitative dispositions; with their appearance and con∣formation, so nearly human. Of the smallest sort of these animals we have had several, at different times, brought into this country, all nearly alike; but that observed by Dr. Tyson, is the best known, having been described with the greatest exactness.

The animal which was described by that

learned physician, was brought from Angola in Africa, where it had been taken in the internal parts of the country, in company with a female of the same kind, that died by the way. The body was covered with hair, which was of a coal black colour, more resembling human hair than that of brutes. It bore a still stronger similitude in its different lengths; for in those places where it is longest on the human species, it was also longest in this; as on the head, the upper lip, the chin, and the pubes. The face was like that of a man, the forehead larger, and the head round. The upper and lower jaw were not so prominent as in monkies; but flat, like those of a man. The ears were like those of a man in most respects; and the teeth had more resemblance to the human, than those of any other creature. The bending of the arms and legs were just the same as in a man; and, in short, the animal, at first view, presented a figure entirely human.

In order to discover its differences, it was ne∣cessary to take a closer survey; and then the imperfections of its form began to appear. The first obvious difference was in the flatness of the nose; the next in the lowness of the forehead, and the wanting the prominence of the chin. The ears were proportionably too large; the

eyes too close to each other; and the interval between the nose and mouth too great. The body and limbs differed, in the thighs be∣ing too short, and the arms too long; in the thumb being too little, and the palm of the hand too narrow. The feet also were rather more like hands than feet; and the animal, if we may judge from the figure, bent too much upon its haunches.

When this creature was examined anato∣mically, a surprizing similitude was seen to prevail in its internal conformation. It differed from man in the number of its ribs, having thirteen; whereas, in man, there are but twelve. The vertebrae of the neck also were shorter, the bones of the pelvis narrower, the orbits of the eyes were deeper, the kidnies were round∣er, the urinary and gall bladders were longer and smaller, and the ureters of a different figure. Such were the principal distinctions between the internal parts of this animal and those of man; in almost every thing else they were entirely and exactly the same, and dis∣covered an astonishing congruity. Indeed, many parts were so much alike in confor∣mation, that it might have excited wonder how they were productive of such few advantages. The tongue, and all the organs of the voice,

were the same, and yet the animal was dumb; the brain was formed in the same manner with that of man, and yet the creature wanted rea∣son: an evident proof (as Mr. Buffon finely ob∣serves) that no disposition of matter will give mind; and that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed in vain, when there is not infused a soul to direct its operations.

Having thus taken a comparative view of this creature with man, what follows may be necessary to compleat the general description. This animal was very hairy all behind, from the head downwards; and the hair so thick, that it covered the skin almost from being seen: but in all parts before, the hair was much thinner, the skin every where appeared; and in some places it was almost bare. When it went on all fours, as it was sometimes seen to do, it appeared all hairy; when it went erect, it appeared before less hairy, and more like a man. Its hair, which in this particular animal was black, much more resembled that of men than the fur of brutes; for, in the latter, be∣sides their long hair, there is usually a finer and shorter intermixed; but in the ouran outang it was all of a kind; only about the pubes the hair was greyish, seemed longer, and somewhat different; as also on the upper lip and chin,

where it was greyish, like the hair of a beard. The face, hands, and soles of the feet, were without hair; and so was most part of the forehead: but down the sides of the face the hair was thick, it being there about an inch and an half long, which exceeded that on any other part of the body. In the palms of its hands were remarkable those lines which are usually taken notice of in palmistry; and, at the tips of the fingers, those spiral lines ob∣served in man. The palms of the hands were as long as the soles of the feet; and the toes upon these were as long as the fingers; the middle toe was the longest of all, and the whole foot differed from the human. The hinder feet being thus formed as hands, the animal often used them as such; and, on the contrary, now and then made use of its hands instead of feet. The breasts appeared small and shrivelled, but exactly like those of a man: the navel also appeared very fair, and in exact dis∣position, being neither harder nor more pro∣minent than what is usually seen in children. Such is the description of this extraordinary creature; to which little has been added by succeeding observers, except that the colour of the hair is often found to vary: in that de∣scribed by Edwards it was of a reddish brown.

From a picture so like that of the human species, we are naturally led to expect a cor∣responding mind; and it is certain, that such of these animals as have been shewn in Europe, have discovered a degree of imitation beyond what any quadrupede can arrive at.

That of Tyson was a gentle, fond, harmleis creature. In its passage to England, those that it knew on ship-board it would embrace with the greatest tenderness, opening their bosoms, and clasping its hands about them. Monkies of a lower species it held in utter aversion; it would always avoid the place where they were kept in the same vessel; and seemed to consider itself as a creature of higher extraction. After it was taken, and a little used to wear cloaths, it grew very fond of them; a part it would put on without any help, and the rest it would carry in its hands to some of the company, for their assistance. It would lie in a bed, place its head on the pillow, and pull the cloaths up∣wards, as a man would do.

That which was seen by Edwards, and de∣scribed by Buffon, shewed even a superior de∣gree of sagacity. It walked, like all of its kind, upon two legs, even though it carried burthens. Its air was melancholly, and its deportment grave. Unlike the baboon or monkey, whose

motions are violent and appetites capricious, who are fond of mischief and obedient only from fear, this animal was slow in in its mo∣tions, and a look was sufficient to keep it in awe. I have seen it, says Mr. Buffon, give its hand to show the company to the door: I have seen it sit at table, unfold its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork to carry the victuals to its mouth, pour out its drink into a glass, touch glasses when invited, take a cup and saucer and lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool be∣fore drinking, and all this without any other instigation than the signs or the command of its master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive; it even approached strangers with respect, and came rather to re∣ceive caresses than to offer injuries. It was par∣ticularly fond of sugared comfits, which every body was ready to give it; and, as it had a de∣fluxion upon the bread, so much sugar contri∣buted to encrease the disorder and shorten its life. It continued at Paris but one summer, and died in London. It ate indiscriminately of all things, but it preferred dry and ripe fruits to all other aliments. It would drink wine, but in small quantities, and gladly left it for milk, tea, or any other sweet liquor.

Such these animals appeared when brought into Europe. However, many of their extra∣ordinary habits were probably the result of edu∣cation, and we are not told how, long the in∣structions they received for this purpose were continued. But we learn from another account that they take but a very short time to come to a great degree of imitative perfection. Mr. L. Brosse bought two young ones, that were but a year old, from a Negroe; and these at that early age discovered an astonishing power of imitation* 1.1. They even then sat at the table like men, ate of every thing without distinc∣tion, made use of their knife, spoon, and fork, both to eat their meat and help themselves. They drank wine and other liquors. When carried on shipboard, they had signs for the cabbin boys expressive of their wants; and whenever these neglected attending upon them as they desired, they instantly flew into a pas∣sion, seized them by the arm, bit them, and kept them down. The male was sea-sick, and required attendance like an human creature; he was even twice bled in the arm; and every time afterwards when he found himself out of order, he shewed his arm, as desirous of being relieved by bleeding.

Pyrard relates, that in the province of Sierra Leona, in Africa, there are a kind of apes, called Baris, which are strong and muscular, and which, if properly instructed when young, serve as very useful domestics. They usually walk upright; they pound at a mortar; they go to the river to fetch water, this they carry back in a little pitcher, on their heads; but if care be not taken to receive the pitcher at their return, they let it fall to the ground, and then, seeing it broken, they begin to lament and cry for their loss. Le Compte's account is much to the same purpose of an ape, which he saw in the Streights of Molucca.

"It walked upon its two hind feet, which it bent a little, like a dog that had been taught to dance. It made use of its hands and arms as we do. Its visage was not much more disagreeable than that of an Hottentot; but the body was all over covered with a woolly hair of different colours. As to the rest, it cried like a child; all its outward ac∣tions were so like the human, and the passions so lively and significant, that dumb men could scarce better express their conceptions and de∣sires. It had also that expression of passion or joy which we often see in children, stamping with its feet, and striking them against the ground, to shew its spight, or when refused

any thing it passionately longed for. Although these animals," continues he, "are very big, for that I saw was four feet high, their nimble∣ness is incredible. It is a pleasure beyond expression to see them run up the tackling of a ship, where they sometimes play as if they had a knack of vaulting peculiar to themselves, or as if they had been paid, like our rope-dancers, to divert the company. Sometimes, suspended by one arm, they poize themselves, and then turn all of a sudden round about a rope, with as much quickness as a wheel, or a sling put into motion. Sometimes holding the rope suc∣cessively with their long fingers, and, letting their whole body fall into the air, they run full speed from one end to the other, and come back again with the same swiftness. There is no posture but they imitate, nor motion but they perform. Bending themselves like a bow, rolling like a bowl, hanging by the hands, feet, and teeth, according to the different fan∣cies with which their capricious imagination supplies them. But what is still more amazing than all is, their agility to fling themselves from one rope to another, though at thirty, forty, and fifty feet distance."

Such are the habitudes and the powers of the smaller class of these extraordinary creatures;

but we are presented with a very different pic∣ture in those of a larger stature and more mus∣cular form. The little animals we have been describing, which are seldom found above four feet high, seem to partake of the nature of dwarfs among the human species, being gentle, assiduous, and playful, rather fitted to amuse than terrify. But the gigantic races of the Ourang Outang, seen and described by travellers, are truly formidable; and in the gloomy forests, where they are only found, seem to hold undis∣puted dominion. Many of these are as tall or taller than a man; active, strong and intrepid, cunning, lascivious and cruel. This redoubtable rival of mankind is found in many parts of Africa, in the East-Indies, in Madagascar, and in Borneo* 1.2. In the last of these places, the people of quality course him as we do the stag; and this sort of hunting is one of the favourite amusements of the king himself. This creature is extremely swift of foot, endowed with extra∣ordinary strength, and runs with prodigious celerity. His skin is all hairy, his eyes sunk in his head, his countenance stern, his face tanned, and all his lineaments, though exactly human, harsh and blackened by the sun. In Africa this creature is even still more formidable. Battel calls

him the Pongo, and assures us that in all his proportions he resembles a man, except that he is much larger, even to a gigantic state. His face resembles that of a man, the eyes deep sunk in the head, the hair on each side ex∣tremely long, the visage naked and without hair, as also the ears and the hands. The body is lightly covered, and scarcely differing from that of a man, except that there are no calves to the legs. Still, however, the animal is seen to walk upon his hinder legs, and in an erect posture. He sleeps under trees, and builds himself an hut, which serves to protect him against the sun and the rains of the tropical climates, of which he is a native. He lives only upon fruits, and is no way carnivorous. He cannot speak, although furnished with greater instinct than any other animal of the brute creation. When the Negroes make a fire in the woods, this animal comes near and warms him∣self by the blaze. However, he has not skill enough to keep the flame alive by feeding it with fuel. They go together in companies; and if they happen to meet one of the human species, remote from succour, they shew him no mercy. They even attack the elephant, which they beat with their clubs, and oblige to leave that part of the forest which they claim

as their own. It is impossible to take any of these dreadful creatures alive, for they are so strong that ten men would not be a match for but one of them. None of this kind, therefore, are taken except when very young, and these but rarely, when the female happens to leave them behind, for in general they keep clung to the breast, and adhere both with legs and arms. From the same traveller we learn, that when one of these animals dies, the rest cover the body with a quantity of leaves and branches. They sometimes also shew mercy to the human kind. A Negroe boy, that was taken by one of these, and carried into the woods, continued there a whole year, without receiving any in∣jury* 1.3. From another traveller we learn, that these animals often attempt to surprize the fe∣male Negroes as they go into the woods, and frequently keep them against their wills for the pleasure of their company, feeding them very plentifully all the time. He assures us that he knew a woman of Loango that had lived among these animals for three years. They grow from six to seven feet high, and are of unequalled strength. They build sheds, and make use of clubs for their defence. Their faces are broad, their noses flat, their ears without a tip,

their skins are more bright than that of a Mul∣latoe, and they are covered on many parts of the body with long and tawny coloured hair. Their belly is large, their heels flat, and yet rising behind. They sometimes walk upright, and sometimes upon all fours, when they are phantastically disposed.

From this description of the Ouran Outang, we perceive at what a distance the first animal of the brute creation is placed from the very lowest of the human species. Even in countries peopled with savages, this creature is considered as a beast; and in those very places where we might suppose the smallest difference between them and mankind, the inhabitants hold it in the greatest contempt and detestation. In Borneo, where this animal has been said to come to its greatest perfection, the natives hunt it in the same manner as they pursue the elephant or the lion, while its re∣semblance to the human form procures it neither pity nor protection. The gradations of Nature in the other parts of nature are minute and in∣sensible; in the passage from quadrupedes to fishes we can scarce tell where the quadrupede ends and the fish begins; in the descent from beasts to insects we can hardly distinguish the steps of the progression; but in the ascent from brutes to man, the line is strongly drawn, well

marked, and unpassable. It is in vain that the Ouran Outang resembles man in form, or imi∣tates many of his actions; he still continues a wretched, helpless creature, pent up in the most gloomy part of the forest, and, with regard to the provision for his own happiness, inferior even to the elephant or the beaver in sagacity. To us, indeed, this animal seems much wiser than it really is. As we have long been used to measure the sagacity of all actions by their similitude to our own, and not their fitness to the animal's way of living, we are pleased with the imitations of the ape, even though we know they are far from contributing to the convenience of its situation. An ape, or a quadrupede, when under the tramels of human education, may be an admirable object for human curiosity, but is very little advanced by all its learning in the road to its own felicity. On the contrary, I have never seen any of these long instructed animals that did not, by their melancholly air, appear sensible of the wretch∣edness of their situation. Its marks of seeming sagacity were merely relative to us and not to the animal; and all its boasted wisdom was merely of our own making.

There is, in fact, another circumstance re∣lative to this animal which ought not to be

[figure] depiction of the ouran-outang [orang-utan]

The Ouran-Outang.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

concealed. I have many reasons to believe that the most perfect of the kind are prone, like the rest of the quadrupede creation, and only owe their erect attitude to human education. Almost all the travellers who speak of them mention their going sometimes upon all fours, and sometimes erect. As their chief residence is among trees, they are without doubt usually seen erect while they are climbing; but it is more than probable that their efforts to escape upon the ground are by running upon the hands and feet together. Schouten, who mentions their education, tells us that they are taken in traps, and taught in the beginning to walk upon their hind legs; which certainly implies that in a state of nature they run upon all fours. Add to this, that, when we examine the palms of their hands and the soals of their feet, we find both equally cal∣lous and beaten; a certain proof that both have been equally used. In those hot countries, where the apes are known to reside, the soals of the Ne∣groes feet, who go bare-foot, are covered with a skin above an inch thick; while their hands are as soft as those of an European. Did the apes walk in the same manner, the same exercise would have furnished them with similar advan∣tages, which is not the case. Besides all this, I have been assured by a very credible traveller,

that these animals naturally run in the woods upon all fours; and when they are taken, their hands are tied behind them, to teach them to walk upright. This attitude they learn after some time; and, thus instructed, they are sent into Europe to astonish the speculative with their near approaches to humanity, while it is never considered how much is natural, and how much has been acquired in the savage schools of Benin and Angola.

The animal next to these, and to be placed in the same class, is the Ape, properly so called, or the Pithekos of the ancients. This is much less than the former, being not above a foot and an half high, but walks erect, is without a tail, and is easily tamed.

Of this kind also is the Gibbon, so called by Buffon, or the Long Armed Ape, which is a very extraordinary and remarkable creature. It is of different sizes, being from four feet to two feet high. It walks erect, is without a tail, has a face resembling that of a man, with a circle of bushy hair all round the visage; its eyes are large and sunk in its head; its face tanned and its ears exactly proportioned. But that in which it chiefly differs from all others of the monkey tribe is the extraordinary length of its arms, which, when the animal

[figure] depiction of the long-armed monkey [gibbon]

The long armd Monkey.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

[figure] depiction of the magot [Barbary macaque]

The Magot.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp.

stands erect, are long enough to reach the ground; so that it can walk upon all fours and yet keep its erect posture at the same time. This animal, next to the Ouran Outang and the Ape, most nearly resembles mankind, not only in form, but in gentle manners and tractable disposition. It is a native of the East-Indies, and particularly found along the coasts of Co∣romandel.

The last of the ape kind is the Cynocephalus, or the Magot of Buffon. This animal wants a tail, like the former, although there is a small protuberance at that part, which yet is rather formed by the skin than the bone. It differs also in having a large callous red rump. The face is prominent, and approaches more to that of quadrupedes than of man. The body is covered with a brownish hair, and yellow on the belly. It is about three feet and an half, or four feet high, and is a native of most parts of Africa and the East. As it recedes from man in its form, so also it appears different in its dispositions, being sullen, vicious, and un∣tractable* 1.4.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

THE BABOON.

DESCENDING from the more perfect of the monkey kinds, we come to the baboon and its varieties, a large, fierce, and formidable race, that, mixing the figure of the man and the quadrupede in their conformation, seem to pos∣sess only the defects of both; the petulance of the one, and the ferocity of the other. These animals have a short tail; a prominent face; with canine teeth, larger than those of men, and callossities on the rump* 1.5. In man the physiognomy may deceive, and the figure of body does not always lead to the qualities of the mind; but in animals we may always judge of their dispositions by their looks, and form a just conjecture of their internal habits from their external form. If we compare the nature of the ape and baboon by this easy rule, we shall at once be led to pronounce that they greatly differ in their dispositions, and that the latter are infinitely more fierce, savage and malicious than the former. The ouran outang, that so nearly resembles man in its figure, approaches also nearest in the gentleness of its manners and the pliancy of its temper. The cynocephalus, that of all other apes is most unlike man in

form, and approaches nearer the dog in face, resembles also the brute in nature, being wild, restless, and impelled by a fretful impetuosity. But the baboon, who is still more remote, and resembles man only in having hands, who, from having a tail, a prominent face, and sharp claws, approaches more nearly to the savage tribe, is every way fierce, malicious, ignorant and un∣tractable.

The baboon, properly so called, is from three to four feet high, very strong built, with a thick body and limbs, and canine teeth, much longer than those of men. It has large cal∣losities behind, which are quite naked and red. Its tail is crooked and thick, and about seven or eight inches long. Its snout, for it can hardly be called a face, is long and thick, and on each side of its cheeks it has a pouch, into which, when satiated with eating, it puts the remainder of its provisions. It is covered with long thick hair of a reddish brown colour, and pretty uniform over the whole body. It walks more commonly upon all fours than up∣right, and its hands as well as its feet are armed with long sharp claws, instead of the broad round nails of the ape kind.

An animal thus made for strength, and fur∣nished with dangerous weapons, is found in fact

to be one of the most formidable of the savage race, in those countries where it is bred. It appears in its native woods, to be impelled by two opposite passions; an hatred for the males of the human species, and a desire for women. Were we assured of these strange oppositions in its disposition from one testimony alone, the account might appear doubtful; but, as it comes from a variety of the most credible witnesses, we cannot refuse our assent. From them, therefore, we learn that these animals will often assail women in a body, and force them into the woods, where they keep them against their will, and kill them when refractory. From the Chevalier Forbin we learn, that in Siam whole troops of these will often sally forth from their forests, and attack a village, when they know the men are engaged in their rice harvest. They are on such occasions actuated as well by desire as by hunger; and not only plunder the houses of whatever provisions they can find, but endeavour to force the women. These, however, as the Chevalier humourously relates, not at all liking either the manners or the figure of the paltry gallants, boldly stand on their defence, and with clubs, or whatever other arms they can provide, instead of answering their caresses, oblige their ugly suitors to retreat;

not, however, before they have damaged or plundered every thing eatable they can lay their hands on.

At the Cape of Good Hope they are less for∣midable, but to the best of their power equally mischievous. They are there under a sort of natural discipline, and go about whatever they undertake with surprizing skill and regularity. When they set about robbing an orchard or a vineyard, for they are extremely fond of grapes, apples, and ripe fruit, they do not go singly to work, but in large companies, and with pre∣concerted deliberation. On these occasions, a part of them enter the enclosure, while one is set to watch. The rest stand without the fence, and form a line reaching all the way from their fellows within to their rendezvous without, which is generally in some craggy mountain. Every thing being thus disposed, the plunderers within the orchard throw the fruit to those that are without as fast as they can gather it; or, if the wall or hedge be high, to those that sit on the top; and these hand the plunder to those next them on the other side. Thus the fruit is pitched from one to another all along the line, till it is safely deposited at their head quarters. They catch it as readily as the most skilful tennis player can a ball; and while the business

is going forward, which they conduct with great expedition, a most profound silence is observed among them. Their centinel, during this whole time, continues upon the watch, extremely anxious and attentive; but if he perceives any one coming, he instantly sets up a loud cry, and at this signal the whole company scamper off. Nor yet are they at any time willing to leave the place empty handed; for if they be plun∣dering a bed of melons, for instance, they go off with one in their mouths, one in their hands, and one under their arm. If the pursuit is hot, they drop first that from under their arm, then that from their hand; and, if it be continued, they at last let fall that which they had hitherto kept in their mouths.

The natives of the Cape often take the young of these animals, and, feeding them with sheep and goats milk, accustom them to guard their houses; which duty they perform with great punctuality. Those, however, that have been brought into Europe, are headstrong, rude, and untractable. Dogs and cats, when they have done any thing wrong, will run off; but these seem careless and insensible of the mischief they do; and I have seen one of them break a whole table of china, as it should seem by design, with∣out appearing in the least conscious of having

done amiss. It was not, however, in any respect so formidable as that described by Mr. Buffon, of which he gives the following description.

"It was not," says he, "extremely ugly, and yet it excited horror. It continually appeared in a state of savage ferocity, gnashing its teeth, flying at the spectators, and furiously restless. It was obliged to be confined in an iron cage, the bars of which it so forcibly attempted to break, that the spectators were struck with apprehen∣sion. It was a stocky bold animal, whose short limbs and powerful exertions shewed vast strength and agility. The long hair with which it was covered seemed to add to its apparent abilities; which, however, were in reality so great, that it could easily overcome more than a single man, unless armed. As to the rest, it for ever appeared excited by that passion which renders the mildest animals at intervals furious. Its lasciviousness was constant, and its satisfac∣tions particular. Some others also of the monkey kind shewed the same degree of impudence, and particularly in the presence of women; but, as they were less in size, their petulance was less obvious, and their insolence more easily cor∣rected."

But, however violent the desires of these animals may be, they are not found to breed

in our climate. The female brings forth usually but one at a time, which she carries in her arms, and in a peculiar manner clinging to her breast. As to the rest, these animals are not at all car∣nivorous; they principally feed upon fruits, roots, and corn, and generally keep together in companies. The internal parts are more unlike those of man than of quadrupedes, particularly the liver, which is like that of a dog divided into six lobes. The lungs are more divided, the guts in general are shorter, and the kidnies rounder and flatter.

The largest of the baboon kind is the Man∣dril; an ugly disgusting animal, with a tail shorter than the former, though of a much larger sta∣ture, being from four to five feet high. The muzzle is still longer than that of the preceding, it is of a bluish colour, and strongly marked with wrinkles, which give it a frightful ap∣pearance. But what renders it truly loathsome is, that from the nose there is always seen is∣suing a snot, which the animal takes care at in∣tervals to lick off with its tongue and swallow. it is a native of the Gold Coast; it is said to walk more frequently erect than upon all fours; and when displeased, to weep like a child. There was one of them shewn in England some years ago. It seemed tame but stupid, and had a

[figure] depiction of the wanderow [wanderoo, lion-tailed macaque?]

The Wanderow.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp.

method of opening its mouth and blowing at such as came too near.

The Wanderow is a baboon rather less than the former, with the body less compact and muscular, and the hinder parts seemingly more feeble. The tail is from seven to eight inches long; the muzzle is prominent as in the rest of this kind; but what particularly distinguishes it is a large long white head of hair, together with a monstrous white beard, coarse, rough, and descending; the colour of the rest of the body being brown or black. As to the rest, in its savage state, it is equally fierce with the others; but, with a proper education, it seems more tractable than most of its kind, and is chiefly seen in the woods of Ceylon and Ma∣labar.

The Maimon of Buffon, which Edwards calls the Pigtail, is the last of the baboons, and in size rather approaches the monkey, being no larger than a cat. Its chief distinction, besides its pro∣minent muzzle, like a baboon, is in the tail, which is about five or six inches long, and curled up like that of an hog; from which cir∣cumstance, peculiar to this animal, our English naturalist gave it the name. It is a native of Sumatra, and does not well endure the rigours of our climate. Edwards, however, kept one

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

of them a year in London; and another of them happening at the same time to be exposed in a shew of beasts, he brought the two exiles to∣gether, to see if they would claim or acknow∣ledge their kindred. The moment they came into each other's presence, they testified their mutual satisfaction, and seemed quite trans∣ported at the interview.

THE MONKEY.

THE varieties in the larger tribes of the monkey kind are but few; in the ape we have seen but four, and in the baboon about as many. But when we come to the smaller class, the dif∣ferences among them seem too tedious for enu∣meration. These, as was observed in the be∣ginning, are all small in stature, and with long tails, by which they are distinguished from the preceding, that entirely want the tail, or are large and have but a short one. The varieties in the form and colour of dogs, or squirrels, is nothing to what are found among monkies of the smaller kind. Bosman mentions above fifty sorts on the Gold Coast alone, and Smith con∣firms the account. Condamine asserts that it would take up a volume to describe the diffe∣rences of these to be found along the river Amazons; and we are sure that every one of

these is very different from those on the African coast. Naturalists, however, have undertaken to make a catalogue of their numbers; and they either transmit their descriptions from one to another, or only enumerate those few that have found their way to Europe, and have fallen within the narrow circle of their own observa∣tion. But, though it may be proper enough to describe such as fall under notice, it is certainly wrong to offer a scanty catalogue as complete, and to induce the reader to suppose he sees a picture of the whole groupe of these animals when he is only presented with a small part of the number. Such, therefore, as are fond of the reputation of adding new descriptions to the stock of natural history, have here a wide, though surely a barren, field to enlarge in; and they will find it no difficult matter, by observ∣ing the various animals of this kind that are from time to time brought from their native coasts to this country, to indulge in description, and to ring the changes upon all the technical terms with which this most pleasing science is obscured and rendered disgusting. For my own part, I will spare the reader and myself the trouble of entering into an elaborate description of each; content with observing once more, that their numbers are very great and their dif∣ferences

very trifling. There is scarce a country in the tropical climates that does not swarm with them, and scarce a forest that is not inhabited by a race of monkies distinct from all others. Every different wood along the coasts of Africa may be considered as a separate colony of mon∣kies, differing from those of the next district in colour, in size, and malicious mischief. It is indeed remarkable that the monkies of two cantons are never found to mix with each other, but rigorously to observe a separation; each forest produces only its own; and these guard their limits from the intrusion of all strangers of a different race from themselves. In this they somewhat resemble the human inhabitants of the savage nations, among whom they are found, where the petty kingdoms are numerous, and their manners opposite. There, in the ex∣tent of a few miles, the traveller is presented with men speaking different languages, pro∣fessing different religions, governed by different laws, and only resembling each other in their mutual animosity.

In general, monkies of all kinds, being less than the baboon, are endued with less powers of doing mischief. Indeed, the ferocity of their nature seems to diminish with their size; and when taken wild in the woods, they are sooner

tamed, and more easily taught to imitate man than the former. More gentle than the baboon, and less grave and sullen than the ape, they soon begin to exert all their sportive mimickries, and are easily restrained by correction. But it must be confessed that they will do nothing they are de∣sired without beating; for, if their fears be entirely removed, they are the most insolent and headstrong animals in nature.

In their native woods they are not less the pests of man than of other animals. The monkies, says a traveller* 1.6, are in possession of every forest where they reside, and may be con∣sidered as the masters of the place. Neither the tiger, nor the lion itself, will venture to dis∣pute the dominion, since these, from the tops of trees, continually carry on an offensive war, and by their agility escape all possibility of pur∣suit. Nor have the birds less to fear from their continual depredations; for, as these harmless inhabitants of the wood usually build upon trees, the monkies are for ever on the watch to find out and rob their nests; and such is their petulant delight in mischief, that they will fling their eggs against the ground when they want appetite or inclination to devour them.

There is but one animal in all the forest that

ventures to oppose the monkey, and that is the serpent. The larger snakes are often seen winding up the trees where the monkies reside; and, when they happen to surprize them sleep∣ing, swallow them whole before the little ani∣mals have time to make a defence. In this manner, the two most mischievous kinds in all nature keep the whole forest between them; both equally formidable to each other, and for ever employed in mutual hostilities. The monkies in general inhabit the tops of the trees, and the serpents cling to the bran∣ches nearer the bottom; and in this manner they are for ever seen near each other, like ene∣mies in the same field of battle. Some travellers, indeed, have supposed that their vicinity rather argued their mutual friendship, and that they united in this manner to form an offensive league against all the rest of animated nature* 1.7.

"I have seen these monkies," says Labat, "play∣ing their gambols upon those very branches on which the snakes were reposing, and jumping over them without receiving any injury, al∣though the serpents of that country were natu∣rally vindictive, and always ready to bite what∣ever disturbed them."

These gambols, however, were probably nothing more than the insults of

an enemy that was conscious of its own safety; and the monkies might have provoked the snake in the same manner as we often see spar∣rows twitter at a cat. However this be, the forest is generally divided between them; and these woods, which Nature seems to have em∣bellished with her richest magnificence, rather inspire terror than delight, and chiefly serve as retreats for mischief and malignity.

The enmity of these animals to mankind, is partly ridiculous, and partly formidable. They seem, says Le Comte and others, to have a peculiar instinct in discovering their foes; and are perfectly skilled, when attacked, in mu∣tually defending and assisting each other. When a traveller enters among these woods, they consider him as an invader upon their domi∣nions, and join all to repel the intrusion. At first they survey him with a kind of insolent cu∣riosity They jump from branch to branch, pursue him as he goes along, and make a loud chattering, to call the rest of their companions together. They then begin their hostilities by grinning, threatening, and flinging down the withered branches at him, which they break from the trees: they even take their excre∣ments in their hands, and throw them at his head. Thus they attend him wherever he goes;

jumping from tree to tree with such amazing swiftness, that the eye can scarce attend their motions. Although they take the most des∣perate leaps, yet they are seldom seen to come to the ground, for they easily fasten upon the branches that break their fall, and stick, either by their hands, feet, or tail, wherever they touch. If one of them happens to be wounded, the rest assemble round, and clap their fingers into the wound, as if they were desirous of sounding its depth. If the blood flows in any quantity, some of them keep it shut up, while others get leaves, which they chew, and thrust into the opening: however extraordinary this may appear, it is asserted to be often seen, and to be strictly true. In this manner they wage a pe∣tulant, unequal war; and are often killed in numbers before they think proper to make a retreat. This they effect with the same preci∣pitation with which they at first came together. In this retreat the young are seen clinging to the back of the female, with which she jumps away, seemingly unembarrassed by the burthen.

The curiosity of the Europeans has, in some measure, induced the natives of the places where these animals reside, to catch or take them alive by every art they are able. The

usual way in such case, is to shoot the female as she carries her young, and then both, of course, tumble to the ground. But even this is not easily performed; for if the animal be not killed outright, it will not fall; but clinging to some branch, continues, even when dead, its former grasp, and remains on the tree where it was shot, until it drops off by putrefaction: In this manner it is totally lost to the pursuer; for to attempt climbing the tree, to bring either it or the young one down, would probably be fatal, from the number of serpents that are hid among the branches. For this reason the sportsman always takes care to aim at the head; which, if he hits, the monkey falls directly to the ground; and the young one comes down at the same time, clinging to its dead parent.

The Europeans along the coasts of Guniea, often go into the woods to shoot monkies; and nothing pleases the Negroes more than to see those animals drop, against which they have the greatest animosity. They consider them, and not without reason, as the most mischievous and tormenting creatures in the world; and are happy to see their numbers destroyed, upon a double account; as well because they dread their devastations, as because they love their flesh. The monkey, which is always skinned

before it is eaten, when served up at a Negroe feast, looks, so like a child, that an European is shocked at the very sight. The natives, however, who are not so nice, devour it as one of the highest delicacies; and assiduously attend our sportsmen, to profit by the spoil. But what they are chiefly astonished at, is to see our tra∣vellers carefully taking the young ones alive, while they leave them the old ones, that are certainly the most fit to be eaten. They cannot comprehend what advantage can arise to us from educating or keeping a little animal, that, by experience, they know to be equally fraught with tricks and mischief: some of them have even been led to suppose, that, with a kind of perverse affection, we love only creatures of the most mischievous kinds; and having seen us often buy young and tame monkies, they have taken equal care to bring rats to our factors, offering them for sale, and greatly disappointed at finding no purchaser for so hopeful a com∣modity* 1.8.

The Negroes consider these animals as their greatest plague; and, indeed, they do incre∣dible damage, when they come in companies to lay waste a field of Indian corn or rice, or a plantation of sugar-canes. They carry off as

much as they are able; and they destroy ten times more than they bear away. Their manner of plundering is pretty much like that of the baboons, already mentioned, in a garden. One of them stands centinel upon a tree, while the rest are plundering, carefully and cautiously turning on every side, but particularly to that on which there is the greatest danger: in the mean time, the rest of the spoilers pursue their work with great silence and assiduity; they are not contented with the first blade of corn, or the first cane that they happen to lay their hands on: they first pull up such as appear most alluring to the eye: they turn it round, examine, compare it with others, and if they find it to their mind, stick it under one of their shoulders. When in this manner they have got their load, they begin to think of re∣treating: but if it should happen that the owners of the field appear to interrupt their depredations, their faithful centinel instantly gives notice, by crying out, houp, houp, houp; which the rest perfectly understand, and all at once throwing down the corn they hold in the left hands, scamper off upon three legs, carrying the remainder in the right. If they are still hotly pursued, they then are content to throw down their whole burthen, and to take refuge

among their woods, on the tops of which they remain in perfect security.

Were we to give faith to what some travellers assure us, of the government, policies, and subordination of these animals, we might per∣haps be taxed with credulity; but we have no reason to doubt that they are under a kind of discipline, which they exercise among each other. They are generally seen to keep together in com∣panies, to march in exact order, and to obey the voice of some particular chieftain, remark∣able for his size and gravity. One species of these, which Mr. Buffon calls the Ouarine, and which are remarkable for the loudness and the distinctness of their voice, are still more so for the use to which they convert it.

"I have fre∣quently been a witness," says Morgrave, "of their assemblies and deliberations. Every day, both morning and evening, the ouarines as∣semble in the woods to receive instructions. When all come together, one among the num∣ber takes the highest place on a tree, and makes a signal with his hand to the rest to sit round, in order to hearken. As soon as he sees them placed, he begins his discourse, with so loud a voice, and yet in a manner so precipitate, that to hear him at a distance, one would think the whole company were crying out at the same

time: however, during that time, one only is speaking; and all the rest observe the most profound silence. When this has done, he makes a sign with the hand for the rest to reply; and at that instant they raise their voices to∣gether, until by another signal of the hand they are enjoined silence. This they as readily obey; till, at last, the whole assembly breaks up, after hearing a repetition of the same preachment."

The chief food of the monkey-tribe is fruits, the buds of trees, or succulent roots and plants. They all, like man, seem fond of sweets; and particularly the pleasant juice of the palm-tree, and the sugar cane. With these the fertile regions in which they are bred, seldom fail to supply them; but when it happens that these fail, or that more nourishing food becomes more agreeable, they eat insects and worms; and, sometimes, if near the coasts, descend to the sea-shore, where they eat oysters, crabs, and shell fish. Their manner of managing an oyster is extraordinary enough; but it is too well attested, to fail of our assent. As the oysters in the tropical climates are generally larger than with us, the monkies, when they go to the sea-side pick up a stone, and clap it between the opening shells: this prevents them

from closing; and the monkey then eats the fish at his ease. They often also draw crabs from the water, by putting their tail to the hole where that animal takes refuge, and the crab fastening upon it, they withdraw it with a jerk, and thus pull their prey upon shore. This habit of laying traps for other animals, makes them very cautious of being entrapped them∣selves; and I am assured, by many persons of credit, that no snare, how nicely baited soever, will take the monkey of the West-Indian islands; for having been accustomed to the cunning of man, it opposes its natural distrust to human artifice.

The monkey generally brings forth one at a time, and sometimes two. They are rarely found to breed when brought over into Europe; but of those that do, they exhibit a very striking picture of parental affection. The male and female are never tired of fondling their young one. They instruct it with no little assiduity; and often severely correct it, if stubborn, or dis∣inclined to profit by their example: they hand it from one to the other; and when the male has done shewing his regard, the female takes her turn. When wild in the woods, the fe∣male, if she happens to have two, carries one on her back, and the other in her arms: that

on her back clings very closely, clasping its hands round her neck, and its feet about her middle; when she wants to suckle it, she then alters their position; and that which has been fed gives place to the other, which she takes in her arms. It often happens that she is un∣able to leap from one tree to another, when thus loaden; and upon such occasions, their dexterity is very surprizing. The whole family form a kind of chain, locking tail in tail, or hand in hand, and one of them holding the branch above, the rest swing down, balancing to and fro, like a pendulum, until the under∣most is enabled to catch hold of the lower branches of some neighbouring tree. When the hold is fixed below, the monkey lets go that which was above, and thus comes under∣most in turn; but, creeping up along the chain, attains the next branches, like the rest; and thus they all take possession of the tree, without ever coming to the ground.

When in a state of domestic tameness, those animals are very amusing, and often fill up a vacant hour, when other entertainment is want∣ing. There are few that are not acquainted with their various mimickries, and their ca∣pricious feats of activity. But it is generally in company with other animals of a more simple

disposition that their tricks and superior in∣stincts are shewn; they seem to take a delight in tormenting them; and I have seen one of them amusing itself for hours together, in im∣posing upon the gravity of a cat. Erasmus tells us of a large monkey, kept by Sir Thomas More, that, one day diverting itself in his garden, where some tame rabbits were kept, played several of its usual pranks among them, while the rabbits scarce well knew what to make of their new acquaintance: in the mean time, a weasel, that came for very different purposes than those of entertainment, was seen peering about the place in which the rabbits were fed, and endeavouring to make its way, by removing a board that closed their hutch. While the monkey saw no danger, it continued a calm spectator of the enemy's efforts; but just when, by long labour, the weasel had effected its purpose, and had removed the board, the monkey stept in, and, with, the utmost dexte∣rity, fastened it again in its place; and the dis∣appointed weasel was too much fatigued to renew its operations. To this I will only add what Father Carli, in his history of An∣gola assures us to be true. In that horrid country, where he went to convert the savage natives to Christianity, and met with nothing

but distress and disappointment; while his health was totally impaired by the raging heats of the climate, his patience exhausted by the obstinacy of the stupid natives, and his little provisions daily plundered, without redress, in such an exigency he found more faithful services from the monkies than the men; these he had taught to attend him, to guard him, while sleep∣ing, against thieves and rats, to comb his head, to fetch his water; and, he asserts, that they were even more tractable than the human inhabitants of the place. It is indeed remarkable, that in those countries where the men are most bar∣barous and stupid, the brutes are most active and sagacious. It is in the torrid tracts, in∣habited by Barbarians, that such various animals are found with instincts so nearly approaching reason. The savages both of Africa and Ame∣rica, accordingly suppose monkies to be men; idle, slothful, rational beings; capable of speech and conversation; but obstinately dumb, for fear of being compelled to labour.

As of all savages, those of Africa are the most brutal, so, of all countries, the monkies of Africa are the most expert and entertaining. The monkies of America are, in general, neither so sagacious nor so tractable, nor is their form so nearly approaching that of man.

The monkies of the new continent, may be very easily distinguished from those of the old, by three marks. Those of the ancient conti∣nent are universally found to have a naked callous substance behind, upon which they sit; which those of America are entirely without; those also of the ancient continent have the nostrils differently formed, more resembling those of men, the holes opening downward; whereas the American monkies have them opening on each side; those of the ancient world, have pouches on each side the jaw, into which they put their provisions, which those of America are without: lastly, none of the monkies of the ancient continent hang by the tail, which many of the American sorts are known to do. By these marks the monkies of either continent, may be readily distinguished from each other, and prized accordingly. The African monkey, as I am assured, requires a longer education, and more correction, than that of America; but it is at last found ca∣pable of more various powers of imitation; and shews a greater degree of cunning and activity.

Mr. Buffon, who has examined this race of imitative beings, with greater accuracy than any other naturalist before him, makes but

nine species of monkies belonging to the ancient continent; and eleven belonging to the new. To all these he gives the names which they go by, in their respective countries; which, un∣doubtedly, is the method least liable to error, and the most proper for imitation.

Of the monkies of the ancient continent, the first, he describes, is the Macaguo; some∣what resembling a baboon in size, strength of body, and an hideous wrinkled visage: it differs, however, in having a very long tail, which is covered with tufted hair. It is a native of Congo.

The second is the Patas, which is about the same size with the former; but differs, in hav∣ing a longer body, and a face less hideous; it is particularly remarkable for the colour of its hair, which is of a red, so brilliant, that the animal looks as if it were actually painted. It is usually brought from Senegal; and by some, called the Red African Monkey.

The third of the ancient continent is the Malbrouk; of which he supposes the monkey which he calls the Bonet Chinois to be a variety. The one is remarkable for a long tail, and long beard; the other, for a cap of hair, that covers the crown of the head, from whence it takes the name. Both are natives of the East Indies;

and the Bramins, who extend their charity to all the brute creation, have hospitals for such of them as happen to be sick, or otherwise disabled.

The fourth of this kind, is the Mangabey; this may be distinguished from all others, by its eye-lids, which are naked, and of a striking whiteness. It is a native of Madagascar.

The fifth is the Mona, or the Cephus of the ancients: it is distinguished by its colour, which is variegated with black and red; and its tail is of an ash-colour, with two white spots on each side, at its insertion. It is a native of the northern parts of Africa.

The sixth is the Callitrix, or Green Monkey of St. Iägo; distinguished by its beautiful green colour on the back, its white breast and belly, and its black face.

The seventh is the Moustoc, or White Nose; distinguished by the whiteness of its lips, from whence it has received its name, the rest of the face being of a deep blue. It is a native of the Gold Coast, and a very beautiful little animal.

The eighth is the Talapoin; and may be distinguished as well by its beautiful variety of green, white, and yellow hair, as by that under the eyes, being of a greater length than the rest.

It is supposed to be a native of Africa and the east.

The ninth and last of the monkies of the ancient continent, is the Douc, so called in Co∣chinchina, of which country it is a native. The douc seems to unite the characters of all the former together: with a long tail, like the monkey; of a size as large as the baboon; and with a flat face, like the ape: it even resembles the American monkies, in having no callous on its posteriors. Thus it seems to form the shade by which the monkies of one continent are linked with those of the other.

Next come the monkies of the new continent; which, as hath been said, differ from those of the old, in the make of their nostrils, in their having no callosity on their posteriors, and in their having no pouches on each side of the jaw. They differ also from each other, a part of them making no use of their tails to hang by; while others of them have the tail very strong and muscular, and serving by way of a fifth hand to hold by. Those with muscular holding tails, are called Sapajous; those with feeble, useless tails, are called Sagoins. Of the sapa∣jous there are five sorts: of the sagoins there are six.

The first of the sapajous is the Warine, or

the Brazilian Guariba. This monkey is as large as a fox, with black long hair, and re∣markable for the loudness of its voice. It is the largest of the monkey kind to be found in America.

The second is the Coaiti; which may be distingtuished from the rest, by having no thumb, and, consequently, but four fingers on the two fore paws. The tail, however, supplies the defects of the hand; and with this the animal slings itself from one tree to another, with sur∣prizing rapidity.

The third is the Sajou; distinguished from the rest of the sapajous, by its yellowish, flesh-coloured face.

The fourth is the Sai. It is somewhat larger than the sajou, and has a broader muzzle. It is called also the Bewailer; from its peculiar manner of lamenting, when either threatened or beaten.

The fifth and last of the sapajou kind, or monkies that hold by the tail, is the Samiri, or Aurora; which is the smallest and the most beautiful of all. It is of a fine orange colour, with two circles of flesh round the eyes. It is a very tender, delicate animal, and held in high price.

Of the sagoins with feeble tails, there are six

kinds. The first and the largest, is the Saki, or Cagui; so remarkable for the length of the hair on its tail, that it has been often termed the Fox-Tailed Monkey. It is of different sizes; some being twice as large as others.

The second of this kind is the Tamaim; which is usually black, with the feet yellow. Some, however, are found all over brown, spotted with yellow.

The third is the Wistiti; remarkable for the large tufts of hair upon its face, and its annulated tail.

The fourth is the Marikina; with a mane round the neck, and a bunch of hair at the end of the tail, like a lion.

The fifth is called the Pinch; with the face of a beautiful black, and white hair that de∣scends on each side of the face, like that of man.

The last, least, and most beautiful of all, is the Mico, an animal too curiously adorned, not to demand a particular description; which is thus given of it, by Mr. Condamine.

"That," says he, "which the governor of Para made me a present of, was the only one of its kind that was seen in the country. The hair on its body was of a beautiful silver colour, brighter than that of the most venerable human hair:

while the tail was of a deep brown, inclining to blackness. It had another singularity, more remarkable than the former; its ears, its cheeks, and lips, were tinctured with so bright a vermil∣lion, that one could scarce be led to suppose that it was natural. I kept it a year; and it was still alive when I made this description of it, almost within sight of the coasts of France: all I could then do, was to preserve it in spirits of wine, which might serve to keep it in such a state, as to shew that I did not in the least exaggerate in my description."

OF THE MAKI.

THE last of the monkey kind are the Makies; which have no other pretensions to be placed in this class, except that of having hands like the former, and making use of them to climb trees, or to pluck their food. Animals of the hare kind, indeed, are often seen to feed themselves with their fore paws, but they can hold nothing in one of them singly, and are obliged to take up whatever they eat in both at once: but it is otherwise with the maki; as well as the monkey kinds, they seize their food with one hand, pretty much like a man, and grasp it with great ease and firmness. The

[figure] depiction of the mococo [macauco, ring-tailed lemur]

The Mococo.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp

maki, therefore, from this conformation in its hands, both before and behind, approaches nearly to the monkey kind; out, in other re∣spects, such as the make of the snout, the form of the ears, and the parts that distinguish the sexes, it entirely differs from them. There are many different kinds of these animals; all varying from each other in colour or size, but agreeing in the human-like figure of their hands and feet, and in their long nose, which some∣what resembles that of a dog. As most of these are bred in the depths of the forest, we know little more concerning them than their figure. Their way of living, their power of pursuit and escape, can only be supposed, from the analogy of their conformation, somewhat to resemble those of the monkey.

The first of this kind is the Mococo; a beautiful animal, about the size of a common cat, but the body and limbs slenderer, and of a longer make. It has a very long tail, at least double the length of its body; it is covered with fur, and marked alternately with broad rings of black and white. But what it is chiefly remarkable for, besides the form of its hands and feet, is the largeness of its eyes, which are surrounded with a broad black space; and the length of the hinder legs, which by far exceed

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

those before. When it sleeps, it brings its nose to its belly, and its tail over its head. When it plays, it uses a sort of galloping, with its tail raised over its back, which keeps continually in motion. The head is covered with dark ash-coloured hair; the back and sides, with a red ash-colour, and not so dark as on the head; and the whole, glossy, soft and de∣licate, smooth to the touch, and standing al∣most upright, like the pile of velvet. It is a native of Madagascar; appears to be an harm∣less gentle animal; and though it resembles the monkey in many respects, it has neither its ma∣lice nor its mischief: nevertheless, like the monkey, it seems to be always in motion; and moves, like all four-handed animals, in an oblique direction.

A second of this kind, which is also a native of Madagascar, is the Mongooz; which is less than the former; with a soft, glossy robe, but a little curled. The nose also is thicker than that of the mococo; the eyes are black, with orange-coloured circles round the pupil; and the tail is of one uniform colour. As to the rest, it is found of various colours; some being black, others brown; and its actions some∣what resemble those of a monkey.

The Vari is much larger than either of the

former; its hair is much longer, and it has a kind of ruff round the neck, consisting of very long hair, by which it may be easily distin∣guished from the rest. It differs also in its dis∣position, which is fierce and savage; as also in the loudness of its voice, which somewhat re∣sembles the roaring of the lion. This also is a native of Madagascar.

To this tribe we may refer a little four-handed animal, of the island of Ceylon, which Mr. Buffon calls the Lori; very remarkable for the singularity of its figure. This is, of all other animals, the longest, in proportion to its size; having nine vertebrae in the loins; whereas other quadrupedes have only seven* 1.9. The body appears still the longer, by having no tail. In other respects, it resembles those of the maki kind; as well in its hands and feet, as in its snout, and in the glossy qualities of its hair. It is about the size of a squirrel; and appears to be a tame, harmless little ani∣mal.

OF THE OPPOSSUM, AND ITS KINDS.

TO these four-handed animals of the an∣cient continent, we may add the four-handed

animals of the new, that use their hands like the former, as well as their tails, and that fill up the chasm between the monkey tribe and the lower orders of the forest. As the maki kind in some measure seem to unite the fox and the monkey in their figure and size, so these seem to unite the monkey and the rat. They are all less than the former; they have long tails, almost bare of hair; and their fur, as well as their shape, seems to place them near the rat kind. Some have accordingly ranked them in that class; but their being four-handed, is a sufficient reason for placing them in the rear of the monkies.

The first and the most remarkable of this tribe is the Oppossum, an animal found both in North and South America, of the size of a small cat. The head resembles that of a fox; it has fifty teeth in all; but two great ones in the midst, like those of a rat. The eyes are little, round, clear, lively, and placed upright; the ears are long, broad, and transparent, like those of the rat kind; its tail also encreases the similitude, being round, long, a little hairy in the beginning, but quite naked towards the end. The fore legs are short, being about three inches long; while those behind are about four. The feet are like hands, each having

[figure] depiction of the opossum

The Opossum.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

five toes or fingers, with white crooked nails, and rather longer behind than before. But it is particular in this animal, that the thumb on the hinder legs wants a nail; whereas the fingers are furnished with clawed nails as usual.

But that which distinguishes this animal from all others, and what has excited the wonder of mankind for more than two centuries, is the extraordinary conformation of its belly, as it is found to have a false womb, into which the young, when brought forth in the usual manner, creep, and continue for some days longer, to lodge and suckle securely. This bag, if we may so call it, being one of the most extraor∣dinary things in natural history, requires a more minute description. Under the belly of the female is a kind of slit or opening, of about three inches long; this opening is composed of a skin, which makes a bag internally, which is covered on the inside with hair, and in this bag are the teats of the female; and into it the young, when brought forth, retire, either to suckle or to escape from danger. This bag has a power of opening and shutting, at the will of the ani∣mal; and this is performed by means of several muscles, and two bones, that are fitted for this purpose, and that are peculiar to this ani∣mal

only. These two bones are placed before the os pubis, to which they are joined at the base; they are about two inches long, and grow smaller and smaller to their extremities. These support the muscles that serve to open the bag, and give them a fixture To these muscles there are antagonists, that serve, in the same manner, to shut the bag; and this they perform so ex∣actly, that in the living animal the opening can scarce be discerned, except when the sides are forcibly drawn asunder. The inside of this bag is furnished with glands, that exsude a musky substance, which communicates to the flesh of the animal, and renders, it unfit to be eaten. It is not to be supposed that this is the place where the young are conceived, as some have been led to imagine; for the oppossum has another womb, like that of the generality of animals, in which generation is performed in the ordinary manner. The bag we have been describing, may rather be considered as a sup∣plemental womb. In the real womb, the little animal is partly brought to perfection; in the ordinary one, it receives a kind of additional, incubation; and acquires, at last, strength enough to follow the dam wherever she goes. We have many reasons to suppose that the

young of this animal are all brought forth pre∣maturely, or before they have acquired that degree of perfection, which is common in other quadrupedes. The little ones, when first produced, are in a manner but half com∣pleted; and some travellers assert, that they are, at that time, not much larger than flies. We are assured also, that immediately on quitting the real womb, they creep into the false one; where they continue fixed to the teat, until they have strength sufficient to venture once more into the open air, and share the fatigues of the parent. Ulloa assures us, that he has found five of these little creatures hidden in the belly of the dam three days after she was dead, still alive, and all clinging to the teat with great avidity. It is probable, therefore, that upon their first entering the false womb, they seldom stir out from thence; but when more advanced, they venture forth several times in the day; and, at last, seldom make use of their retreat, except in cases of necessity or danger. Travellers are not agreed in their accounts of the time which these animals take to continue in the false womb; some assure us, they remain there for several weeks; and others, more precisely mention a month. During this

period of strange gestation, there is no dif∣ficulty in opening the bag in which they are concealed; they may be reckoned, examined, and handled, without much inconvenience; for they keep fixed to the teat, and cling there as firm as if they made a part of the body of the animal that bears them. When they are grown stronger, they drop from the teat into the bag in which they are contained; and, at last, find their way out, in search of more copious sub∣sistence. Still, however, the false belly serves them for a retreat; either when they want to sleep or to suckle, or when they are pursued by an enemy. The dam, on such occasions, opens her bag to receive them, which they enter,

—Pars formidine turpi Scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo.

The Oppossum, when on the ground, is a slow, helpless animal; the formation of its hands, are alone sufficient to shew its incapacity of running with any degree of swiftness: but, to counterbalance this inconvenience, it climbs trees with great ease and expedition* 1.10. It chiefly subsists upon birds; and hides among the leaves of the trees, to seize them by surprize. It often also hangs by the tail, which is long and

muscular; and, in this situation, for hours to∣gether, with the head downwards, it keeps watching for its prey. If any lesser animal, which it is able to overcome, passes underneath, it drops upon it with deadly aim, and quickly devours it. By means of its tail, the oppossum also slings from one tree to another, hunts in∣sects, escapes its pursuers, and provides for its safety. It seems to be a creature that lives upon vegetables, as well as animal substances, roots, sugar-canes, the bark, and even the leaves of trees. It is easily tamed, but it is a disagree∣able domestic, as well from its stupidity and figure, as its scent, which, however fragrant in small quantities, fails not to be ungrateful when copiously supplied.

An animal greatly resembling the former* 1.11, is the Marmose, which is found in the same continent. It seems only to differ in size, be∣ing less; and, instead of a bag to receive its young, has only two longitudinal folds near the thighs, within which, the young, which are prematurely brought forth, as in the last in∣stance, continue to suckle. The young of these, when first produced, are not above the size of a bean; but continue sticking to the

teat, until they have arrived at greater matu∣rity.

The Cayopolin is somewhat larger than the former; and a good deal resembling it in habits and figure, except that its snout is more pointed, its tail longer in proportion, and its colour different, being of an ash, somewhat inclining to yellow; however, I should suppose it to be only a variety of the former.

To this number we may add the Phalanger, so called by Mr. Buffon; a good deal resembling the former, but distinguished by the fashion of its hinder hands: the thumb and the fore finger being joined together, except at the extremities. This animal is about the size of a rat; and has, accordingly, by some, been called the Rat of Surinam.

The last animal of this class is called, by Mr. Buffon, the Tarsier. This extraordinary little animal resembles the former, in having four hands, and a long tail; but it differs very much in the extreme length of its hinder legs, which are longer than the rest of its whole body. The bones of that part of the foot called the Tarsus, are likewise so very long, that from thence the animal has received its name: the tail is naked in the middle, and hairy only at both extre∣mities:

[figure] depiction of the cayopolin [type of opossum]

The Cayopolin.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

[figure] depiction of the tarsier

The Tarsier.

De Seve del.

Is^c. Taylor sculp

its hair is woolly, soft, and a deep ash colour. As to the rest, it is unknown from what country this animal was brought; but the naturalist from whom we have its description, supposes it to be a native of America.

From this general description of four-handed animals, we perceive what few advantages the brute creation derive from those organs that, in man, are employed to so many great and useful purposes. The being able to pluck their food from the trees, the capacity of clinging among the branches, or at most of converting one of those branches into a weapon of offence, are the highest stretches of their sagacity, and the only use their hands have hitherto been em∣ployed in: and yet, some superficial men have asserted, that the hands alone are sufficient to vindicate the dominion of mankind over other animals; and that much of his boasted reason, is nothing more than the result of his happier conformation: however, were this so, an ape or a monkey would in some instances be more ra∣tional than we; their fingers are smaller, and, in some of them, more finely formed than ours. To what a variety of purposes might they not be employed, if their powers were properly ex∣erted! Those works which we, from the large∣ness

of our fingers, are obliged to go clumsily about, one of these could very easily perform with the utmost exactness; and if the fineness of the hand assisted reason, an ape would be one of the most reasonable beings in the creation. But these admirably formed machines, are almost useless both to mankind and themselves; and contribute little more to the happiness of animal life, than the paws of the lowest qua∣drupede. They are supplied, indeed, with the organs; but they want the mind, to put them into action: it is that reasoning principle alone, with which man has been endowed, that can adapt seemingly opposite causes, to concur in the same general design; and even where the organs are deficient, that can supply their place, by the intervention of assisting instruments. Where reason prevails, we find that it scarcely matters what the organs are that give it the di∣rection; the being furnished with that principle, still goes forward, steadily and uniformly suc∣cessful; breaks through every obstacle, and becomes master of every enterprize. I have seen a man, without hands or legs, convert, by practice, his very stumps to the most conve∣nient purposes; and with these clumsy instru∣ments, perform the most astonishing feats of

dexterity. We may therefore, conclude, that it is the mind alone that gives a master to the creation; and that, if a bear or an horse were endowed with the same intelects that have been given to man, the hardness of an hoof, or the aukwardness of a paw, would be no obstacle to their advancement in the arts of dominion, or of social felicity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 77.
• * 1.2

  Le Compte's History of China.
• * 1.3

  Le Brosse, as quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 70.
• * 1.4

  Omnes fem•…•…ae hujusce et precedentium, ut et fere sequentium specierum menstruali patiuntur •…•…uxu sicut in feminis.
• * 1.5

  Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 183.
• * 1.6

  Description Historique de Macacar, p. 51.
• * 1.7

  Labat, Relat. del Afriq. Occident, p. 317.
• * 1.8

  Labat, Relat. de l'Afriq. Occident, p. 317.
• * 1.9

  Buffon, vol. xxvi. p. 274.
• * 1.10

  Buffon, vol. xxi. p. 174.
• * 1.11

  Buffon, vol. xxi. p. 212.