Well-Soaked
Biscuit Mixed With A Little Egg And Sugar, And Sometimes Sweet
Potatoes, Were Readily Eaten; And It Was
A never-failing
amusement to observe the curious changes of countenance by which
it would express its approval or dislike
Of what was given to it.
The poor little thing would lick its lips, draw in its cheeks,
and turn up its eyes with an expression of the most supreme
satisfaction when it had a mouthful particularly to its taste. On
the other hand, when its food was not sufficiently sweet or
palatable, it would turn the mouthful about with its tongue for a
moment as if trying to extract what flavour there was, and then
push it all out between its lips. If the same food was continued,
it would set up a scream and kick about violently, exactly like a
baby in a passion.
After I had had the little Mias about three weeks, I fortunately
obtained a young hare-lip monkey (Macacus cynomolgus), which,
though small, was very active, and could feed itself. I placed it
in the same box with the Mias, and they immediately became
excellent friends, neither exhibiting the least fear of the
other. The little monkey would sit upon the other's stomach, or
even on its face, without the least regard to its feelings. While
I was feeding the Mias, the monkey would sit by, picking up all
that was spilt, and occasionally putting out its hands to
intercept the spoon; and as soon as I had finished would pick off
what was left sticking to the Mias' lips, and then pull open its
mouth and see if any still remained inside; afterwards lying down
on the poor creature's stomach as on a comfortable cushion. The
little helpless Mias would submit to all these insults with the
most exemplary patience, only too glad to have something warm
near it, which it could clasp affectionately in its arms. It
sometimes, however, had its revenge; for when the monkey wanted
to go away, the Mias would hold on as long as it could by the
loose skin of its back or head, or by its tail, and it was only
after many vigorous jumps that the monkey could make his escape.
It was curious to observe the different actions of these two
animals, which could not have differed much in age. The Mias,
like a very young baby, lying on its back quite helpless, rolling
lazily from side to side, stretching out all four hands into the
air, wishing to grasp something, but hardly able to guide its
fingers to any definite object; and when dissatisfied, opening
wide its almost toothless mouth, and expressing its wants by a
most infantine scream. The little monkey, on the other hand, in
constant motion, running and jumping about wherever it pleased,
examining everything around it, seizing hold of the smallest
object with the greatest precision, balancing itself on the edge
of the box or running up a post, and helping itself to anything
eatable that came in its way. There could hardly be a greater
contrast, and the baby Mias looked more baby-like by the
comparison.
When I had had it about a month, it began to exhibit some signs
of learning to run alone. When laid upon the floor it would push
itself along by its legs, or roll itself over, and thus make an
unwieldy progression. When lying in the box it would lift itself
up to the edge into almost an erect position, and once or twice
succeeded in tumbling out. When left dirty, or hungry, or
otherwise neglected, it would scream violently until attended to,
varied by a kind of coughing or pumping noise very similar to
that which is made by the adult animal. If no one was in the
house, or its cries were not attended to, it would be quiet after
a little while, but the moment it heard a footstep would begin
again harder than ever.
After five weeks it cut its two upper front teeth, but in all
this time it had not grown the least bit, remaining both in size
and weight the same as when I first procured it. This was no
doubt owing to the want of milk or other equally nourishing food.
Rice-water, rice, and biscuits were but a poor substitute, and
the expressed milk of the cocoa-nut which I sometimes gave it did
not quite agree with its stomach. To this I imputed an attack of
diarrhoea from which the poor little creature suffered greatly,
but a small dose of castor-oil operated well, and cured it. A
week or two afterwards it was again taken ill, and this time more
seriously. The symptoms were exactly those of intermittent fever,
accompanied by watery swellings on the feet and head. It lost all
appetite for its food, and, after lingering for a week a most
pitiable object, died, after being in my possession nearly three
months. I much regretted the loss of my little pet, which I had
at one time looked forward to bringing up to years of maturity,
and taking home to England. For several months it had afforded me
daily amusement by its curious ways and the inimitably ludicrous
expression of its little countenance. Its weight was three pounds
nine ounces, its height fourteen inches, and the spread of its
arms twenty-three inches. I preserved its skin and skeleton, and
in doing so found that when it fell from the tree it must have
broken an arm and a leg, which had, however, united so rapidly
that I had only noticed the hard swellings on the limbs where the
irregular junction of the bones had taken place.
Exactly a week after I had caught this interesting little animal,
I succeeded in shooting a full-grown male Orangutan. I had just
come home from an entomologising excursion when Charles [Charles
Allen, an English lad of sixteen, accompanied me as an assistant]
rushed in out of breath with running and excitement, and
exclaimed, interrupted by gasps, "Get the gun, sir, - be quick, -
such a large Mias!" "Where is it?" I asked, taking hold of my gun
as I spoke, which happened luckily to have one barrel loaded with
ball.
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