Palembang Is Built On
A Patch Of Elevated Ground, A Few Miles In Extent, On The North
Bank Of The River.
At a spot about three miles from the town this
turns into a little hill, the top of which is held sacred by the
natives, shaded by some fine trees,and inhabited by a colony
of squirrels which have become half-tame.
On holding out a few
crumbs of bread or any fruit, they come running down the trunk,
take the morsel out of your fingers, and dart away instantly.
Their tails are carried erect, and the hair, which is ringed with
grey, yellow, and brown, radiates uniformly around them, and
looks exceedingly pretty. They have somewhat of the motions of
mice, coming on with little starts, and gazing intently with
their large black eyes before venturing to advance further. The
manner in which Malays often obtain the confidence of wild
animals is a very pleasing trait in their character, and is due
in some degree to the quiet deliberation of their manners, and
their love of repose rather than of action. The young are
obedient to the wishes of their elders, and seem to feel none of
that propensity to mischief which European boys exhibit. How long
would tame squirrels continue to inhabit trees in the vicinity of
an English village, even if close to the church? They would soon
be pelted and driven away, or snared and confined in a whirling
cage. I have never heard of these pretty animals being tamed in
this way in England, but I should think it might be easily done
in any gentleman's park, and they would certainly be as pleasing
and attractive as they would be uncommon.
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