manual operations, of which the lower divisions are insusceptible. Education will improve the mind of the Negro or the Indian; but it would be ridiculous to suppose that his mental or manual improvement could be rendered equal to the excellence of the white man. Every variety of human nature is suscipient of advance precisely in proportion to its capacity, and no more; nor is it possible to produce that equality of the mind which many shallow unreflecting bigots unblushingly declare to be innate to all, and which (according to their doctrine), in the lowest division, only requires similar adscititious advantages to those enjoyed by the highest section, to attain a similar degree on the scale of improvement or excellence : nothing can be more absurd!

CHAPTER IV.

The Ouran-outang.-The Quadrumanous Tribe.

HAVING already remarked that the Negro constituted the descending link in the chain of nature which united human beings to the brute creation, I will point out the class of brutes which most nearly approximates the lowest variety of the genus Homo. No person can look at the ape species of the monkey tribe, without being surprised at its approach to the human figure, and particularly at its resemblance to the Negro. The ouran-outang must be regarded as the first variety of the species in question, and it unfortunately happens that such of these creatures as have been brought to this country, have been very young, and consequently small, and have seldom survived their captivity many years. Several have at various periods fallen under my observation, the tallest of which scarcely measured three feet in height; but we are informed that they have been seen more than six feet, a report to which I give full credit, since, in the month of June, 1835, I saw the skull of an ouran-outang at the Surrey Zoological Gardens (where it still remains) that fully bore out such a conclusion. At the same time, and at the same place, I saw a living ouranoutang, said to be four years of age (but I should think not so much), which, notwithstanding its diminutive size, manifested a wonderful similarity to the Negro.

The ouran-outang is found in some parts of the interior of Africa, and particularly in the island of

Borneo, forming two distinct varieties of the species. Andrew Battell, a Portuguese traveller, who resided in Angola nearly eighteen years, informs us, that these animals were not uncommon in the woods of that country, where they attained a gigantic stature. They were thinly covered with dun-coloured hair, their legs were destitute of calves, and they might sometimes be seen walking in an erect position. The inhabitants of the country, when they travel through the woods, make fires around the place where they sleep, to keep at a distance the various kinds of ferocious animals: to these fires the ouran-outangs would resort in the mornings, sitting by them till the last of the embers were expired; but they had not sense enough to add more fuel. Being quadrumanous, they may be said to live principally in the trees, although Jobson asserts that their habitations were found in some of the woods, composed of plants and the branches of trees so thickly interwoven as to protect them from the heat of the sun.

Ouran-outangs are not lively and frolicsome, like the monkey tribe in general, but appear deliberate and sedate. With a piece of wood or a staff in their hands they are enabled to drive off the elephant. They have been known to throw stones at those who have offended them. Bosman informs us, that behind the English fort at Wimba, on the coast of Guinea, several of these creatures fell upon two of the Company's slaves, overpowered them, and were about to poke out their eyes with sticks, when a party of Negroes happened to come up at a fortunate moment to their rescue. It is said they sometimes steal the Negresses, and carry them off into the woods.

Dr. Tyson, who gave a very exact description of a young ouran-outang, which was exhibited about a

century ago in London, states, that in many of its actions it evinced an extraordinary degree of sagacity, and in its disposition was exceedingly mild. Those that he knew on board the vessel that brought him over, he would embrace with the greatest tenderness; and, although there were monkeys on board, it was observed that he never would associate with any of them. He used sometimes to wear clothes, and at length became very fond of them. He often would put part of them on without help, and carry the remainder in his hands to one of the ship's company for his assistance. He would lie in bed, place his head on a pillow, and pull up the bedclothes to keep himself warm, exactly like a man. I have witnessed similar specimens of sagacity repeatedly exhibited by ouranoutangs which have been brought over to this country.

Vasmaer's account of an ouran-outang, presented to the Prince of Orange in the year 1776, is highly interesting. This animal, he says, was a female, and its height about two Rhenish feet and a half. It showed no symptoms of fierceness or malignity, and was even of a somewhat melancholy appearance. It was fond of being in company, and showed a preference to those who daily attended to its wants, of which it appeared to be very sensible. Often when they retired, it would throw itself on the ground as if in despair, uttering lamentable cries, and tearing in pieces the linen within its reach. Its keeper having been accustomed to sit near it on the ground, it frequently took the hay off its bed, and placed it by its side, and seemed by every demonstration to invite him to be seated near it. Its usual manner of walking was on all-fours, like other apes, but it could also walk erect. One morning it got unchained, and ascended the beam and rafters of the building with

wonderful agility; nor was it retaken without some trouble. During its state of liberty, it had, amongst other things, taken the cork from a bottle of Malaga wine, which it drank to the last drop, and set the bottle in its place again. It ate almost everything that was given to it; but its chief food was bread, roots, and especially carrots; all sorts of fruits, especially strawberries; and it appeared extremely fond of aromatic plants, and of the leaves and root of parsley. It also ate meat, both boiled and roasted, as well as fish. It was not observed to hunt for insects like monkeys; was fond of eggs, which it broke with its teeth, and sucked completely; but fish and roasted meat seemed its favourite food. It had been taught to eat with a spoon and a fork. When presented with strawberries on a plate, it was extremely amusing to see the animal take them up, one by one, with a fork, and put them into its mouth, holding at the same time the plate in the other hand. Its common drink was water, but it also very willingly drank all sorts of wine, and particularly Malaga. After drinking, it wiped its lips; and after eating, if presented with a toothpick, would use it in a proper manner. While on shipboard, it ran freely about the vessel, played with the sailors, and would go, like them, into the kitchen for its mess. At the approach of night, it lay down to sleep, first preparing its bed, by shaking well the hay on which it slept, and putting it in proper order; and, lastly, covering itself warm with the coverlet. One day, seeing the padlock of its chain opened with a key, and shut again, it seized a little bit of stick and put it into the keyhole,, turning it about in all directions, endeavouring to see whether the padlock would open or not. This animal lived seven months in Holland. On its first arrival, it had