unwieldy motions, generally render them an easy prey to their enemies. Sometimes, however, they make a vigorous resistance; and, it is said, that as a sailor was one day employed in skinning one of the young, the female from whom he had taken it, came mouth, lacerated his skull so dreadfully, that he died in a few days afterwards. According to Lord Anson's account, the flesh of these quadrupeds is somewhat like beef, and the hearts and tongues are excellent eating.

not employed in feeding, they sleep in herds in the most miry places they can find. Each herd seems to be under the direction of a large male, which mariners ludicrously style the bashaw, from his driving off the other males from a number of females which he appropriates to himself. These bashaws, how-upon him unperceived, and getting his head into her ever, do not arrive at this envied superiority without many fierce and sanguinary conflicts, of which their numerous scars generally bear evidence. Some of Lord Anson's people observed one day on the island of Juan Fernandez, what they at first supposed to be animals of a kind different from any they had previously seen; but, on a nearer approach, they proved to be two of these seals, which had been goring each other with their teeth, till both were completely covered with blood. It is not difficult to kill them; for their propensity to sleep, and their sluggish and

These animals are principally found on the coast of Zealand, on the island of Juan Fernandez, and the Falkland Islands. The females produce two young ones in the winter, which they suckle for some time These, when first brought forth, are about the siz of a full-grown common seal.

BOOK VIII.*

OF THE MONKEY KIND.

QUADRUPEDS may be considered as a numerous group, 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 the air; on another, we behold a diversity clothed 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 awkward resemblance of the human form, and discover some faint efforts at intellec- | tual sagacity.

Animals of the Monkey class are furnished with hands instead of paws; their ears, eyes, eyelids, lips, and breasts, are like those of mankind; 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.

machine strongly impressed with the human likeness, 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 quadruped 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 further; these are much less than the former, with tails as long, or longer, than their bodies, and flattish faces.

Lastly, the Maki and Opossum kind, seem to lose all resemblance of the human figure, except in having hands; their noses are lengthened out like those of quadrupeds, and every part of their bodies totally different from the human; however, as they grasp their food, or other objects, with one hand, which quadrupeds cannot do, this single similitude gives them an air of sagacity, to which they have scarcely any other pretensions.

From this slight survey it may be easily seen In the Ape kind we see the whole external that one general description will not serve for animals so very different from each other: nevIn arranging the present edition of Goldsmith's Natural History,' we have made a distinct book ertheless, it will be fatiguing to the last degree, under this head, without throwing into this book as their varieties are so numerous, and their difas has been done in all other editions of the work-ferences so small, to go through a particular dedescriptions of all the other quadrupeds not specially scription of each. In this case it will be best to belonging to the preceding sections in Goldsmith's

inartificial but pleasing arrangement. After describ-give a history of the foremost in each class; at ing the animals "of the Monkey kind," our author the same time marking the distinctions in every passes, at one bound, to the description of the ele- species. By this we shall avoid a tedious repetiphant. The description of these unclassified ani- tion of similar characters, and consider the manmals, completing that of quadrupeds in general, seems

obviously to form a natural and leading division inners and the oddities of this fantastic tribe in the arrangement of the work; and has accordingly general points of view; where we shall perceive been given in a distinct book [IX], at p. 497.-ED. how nearly they approach to the human figure,

and how little they benefit by the approximation. | where it had been taken in the internal parts of The foremost of the ape kind is

The animal which was described by that learn-nary and gall bladders were longer and smaller, ed physician was brought from Angola, in Africa,

2 The troglodyte, or chimpanse, is a distinct animal from the oran-outang. The chimpanse seldom measures more than from two feet and a half to three feet in height; and its hair is dark brown, or black-ity. Indeed, many parts were so much alike in ish. Its head is conic, the body brawny, the back and shoulders are hairy, and the rest of the body smooth. Two chimpanses were sent from the forests of the Carnatic by a coasting vessel, as a present to the governor of Bombay. They, like the rest of the species, had many human actions, and seemed, by their melancholy, to have a rational sense of their captivity. They were scarcely two feet high, but walked erect, and very nearly resembled the human form. The female was taken ill during the voyage, and died; and the male, exhibiting every demonstration of grief, refused to eat, and lived only two days afterwards. Both in face and form, the chimpanse has a closer approximation to humanity than the oran-outang. Its habitat is confined to intertropical Africa that of the oran-outang is Asiatic.-ED. See Supplementary Note B, p. 490.

pillow, and pull the clothes upwards as a man would do.

That which was seen by Edwards, and described by Buffon, showed even a superior degree of sagacity. It walked, like all of its kind, upon two legs, even though it carried burdens. Its air was melancholy, 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 its motions, 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 before drinking, and all this without any other instigation than the signs or 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 receive caresses than to offer injuries. It was particularly fond of sugared comfits, which every body was ready to give it; and as it had a defluxion upon the breast, so much sugar contributed to increase 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.

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 everywhere 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, besides their long hair, there is usually a finer and a shorter intermixed; but in the oranoutang it was all of a kind; only about the pubes the hair was grayish, seemed longer, and somewhat different; as also on the upper lip and chin, where it was grayish like the hair of a beard. The face, hands, and soles of the feet, were without hair; and so was the most part of the forehead: but down the sides of the face the hair was thick, it being there about an inch and a 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 observed 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- Such these animals appeared when brought position, being neither harder nor more pro- into Europe. However, many of their extraor minent than what is usually seen in children. dinary habits were probably the result of educaSuch is the description of this extraordinary |tion, and we are not told how long the instruccreature; to which little has been added by suc- tions they received for this purpose were continued. ceeding observers, except that the colour of the But we learn from another account that they hair is often found to vary; in that described by take but a very short time to come to a great Edwards it was of a reddish brown. degree of imitative perfection. Mr. L. Brosse From a picture so like that of the human spe- bought two young ones, that were but a year cies, we are naturally led to expect a correspond-old, from a negro; and these at that early age ing mind; and it is certain, that such of these animals as have been shown in Europe, have discovered a degree of imitation beyond what any quadruped can arrive at.

That of Tyson was a gentle, fond, harmless 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. Monkeys 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 clothes, 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 assistIt would lie in a bed, place its head on the

ance.

discovered an astonishing power of imitation.* They even then sat at the table like men, ate of every thing without distinction, 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 ship-board they had signs for the cabin-boys expressive of their wants; and whenever these neglected attending upon them as they desired, they instantly flew into a passion, seized them by the arm, bit them, and kept them down. The male was sea-sick, and required attendance like a human creature; he was even twice bled in the arm, and every time afterwards, when he found himself out of order, he showed his arm, as desirous of being relieved by bleeding.

4 As quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 77.

"

Pyrard relates, that in the province of Sierr | found, seem to hold undisputed dominion. Many Leone, in Africa, there are a kind of apes, called of these are as tall or taller than a man; active, Baris, which are strong and muscular, and which, strong, and intrepid; cunning, lascivious, and if properly instructed when young, serve as very cruel. This redoubtable rival of mankind is useful domestics. They usually walk upright; found in many parts of Africa, in the East Indies, they pound at a mortar; they go to the river to in Madagascar, and in Borneo.5 In the last of fetch water, this they carry back in a little pitcher these places the people of quality course him as on their heads; but if care be not taken to re- we do the stag; and this sort of hunting is one ceive the pitcher at their return, they let it fall of the favourite amusements of the king himself. to the ground, and then seeing it broken, they This creature is extremely swift of foot, endowed begin to lament and cry for their loss. Le with extraordinary strength, and runs with proCompte's account is much to the same purpose, digious celerity. His skin is all hairy, his eyes of an ape which he saw in the Straits of Molucca. sunk in his head, his countenance stern, his face 'It walked upon its two hind-feet, which it bent tanned, and all his lineaments, though exactly a little, like a dog that had been taught to dance. human, harsh and blackened by the sun. In It made use of its hands and arms as we do. Its Africa this creature is even still more formidable. visage was not much more disagreeable than that Battel calls him the pongo, and assures us that of a Hottentot; but the body was all over covered in al. his proportions he resembles a man, except with a woolly hair of different colours. As to that he is much larger, even to a gigantic state. the rest it cried like a child; all its outward His face resembles that of a man, the eyes deep actions were so like the human, and the passions sunk in the head, the hair on each side extremely so lively and significant, that dumb men could long, the visage naked and without hair, as also scarcely better express their conceptions and the ears and the hands. The body is lightly desires. It had also that expression of passion covered, and scarcely differing from that of a or joy which we often see in children, stamping man, except that there are no calves to the legs. with its feet, and striking them against the ground, Still, however, the animal is seen to walk upon to show its spite, or when refused any thing it his hinder legs, and in an erect posture. He passionately longed for. Although these animals," sleeps under trees, and builds himself a hut, continues he, "are very big, for that I saw was which serves to protect him against the sun and four feet high, their nimbleness is incredible. It the rains of the tropical climates, of which he is is a pleasure beyond expression to see them run a native. He lives only upon fruits, and is no up the tackling of a ship, where they sometimes way carnivorous. He cannot speak, although play as if they had a knack of vaulting peculiar furnished with a greater instinct than any other to themselves, or as if they had been paid, like animal of the brute creation. When the negroes our rope-dancers, to divert the company. Some- make a fire in the woods, this animal comes near times, suspended by one arm, they poise them- and warms himself by the blaze. However, he selves, and then turn all of a sudden round about has not skill enough to keep the flame alive by a rope, with as much quickness as a wheel, or a feeding it with fuel. They go together in comsling put into motion. Sometimes holding the panies, and if they happen to meet one of the rope successively with their long fingers, and, human species remote from succour, they show letting their whole body fall into the air, they him no mercy. They even attack the elephant, run full speed from one end to the other, and which they beat with their clubs, and oblige to come back again with the same swiftness. There leave that part of the forest which they claim is no posture but they imitate, nor motion but as their own. It is impossible to take any of they perform, bending themselves like a bow, these dreadful creatures alive, for they are so rolling like a bowl, hanging by the hands, feet, strong that ten men would not be a match for and teeth, according to the different fancies with but one of them. None of this kind, therefore, which their capricious imagination supplies them. are taken except when very young, and these But what is still more amazing than all, is their but rarely, when the female happens to leave agility to fling themselves from one rope to another, them behind; for in general they keep clung though at thirty, forty, and fifty feet distance." 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 show mercy to the human kind. A negro boy, that was taken by one of these, and carried into the woods, continued there a whole year, without receiving any injury.6 From another traveller we learn, that these animals often attempt to surprise the female negroes 5 Le Compte's History of China.

Such are the habitudes and the powers of the smaller class of these extraordinary creatures; but we are presented with a very different picture in those of a larger stature and more muscular 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 oran-outang, seen and described by travellers, are truly formidable, and in the gloomy forests, where they are only

6 Le Brosse, as quoted by Buffon, vol. xxviii. p. 70.