Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
or Mammalia, many of which, however, are well known, being identical with species found
in Malacca. Among the Mammalia were five squirrels, two tiger-cats, the Gymnurus
Rafflesii, which looks like a cross between a pig and a polecat, and the Cynogale Ben-
netti—a rare, otter-like animal, with very broad muzzle clothed with long bristles.
One of my chief objects in coming to stay at Simunjon was to see the Orang-utan (or
great man-like ape of Borneo) in his native haunts, to study his habits, and obtain good spe-
cimens of the different varieties and species of both sexes, and of the adult and young anim-
als. In all these objects I succeeded beyond my expectations, and will now give some ac-
count of my experience in hunting the Orang-utan, or 'Mias,' as it is called by the natives;
and as this name is short, and easily pronounced, I shall generally use it in preference to
Simia satyrus, or Orang-utan.
Just a week after my arrival at the mines, I first saw a Mias. I was out collecting insects,
not more than a quarter of a mile from the house, when I heard a rustling in a tree near, and,
looking up, saw a large red-haired animal moving slowly along, hanging from the branches
by its arms. It passed on from tree to tree till it was lost in the jungle, which was so swampy
that I could not follow it. This mode of progression was, however, very unusual, and is more
characteristic of the Hylobates than of the Orang. I suppose there was some individual pecu-
liarity in this animal, or the nature of the trees just in this place rendered it the most easy
mode of progression.
About a fortnight afterwards I heard that one was feeding in a tree in the swamp just be-
low the house, and, taking my gun, was fortunate enough to find it in the same place. As
soon as I approached, it tried to conceal itself among the foliage; but I got a shot at it, and
the second barrel caused it to fall down almost dead, the two balls having entered the body.
This was a male, about half-grown, being scarcely three feet high. On April 26th, I was out
shooting with two Dyaks, when we found another about the same size. It fell at the first
shot, but did not seem much hurt, and immediately climbed up the nearest tree, when I fired,
and it again fell, with a broken arm and a wound in the body. The two Dyaks now ran up to
it, and each seized hold of a hand, telling me to cut a pole, and they would secure it. But al-
though one arm was broken and it was only a half-grown animal, it was too strong for these
young savages, drawing them up towards its mouth notwithstanding all their efforts, so that
they were again obliged to leave go, or they would have been seriously bitten. It now began
climbing up the tree again; and, to avoid trouble, I shot it through the heart.
On May 2d, I again found one on a very high tree, when I had only a small 80-bore gun
with me. However, I fired at it, and on seeing me it began howling in a strange voice like a
cough, and seemed in a great rage, breaking off branches with its hands and throwing them
