['IT® ]
'/Now, since Dr. Tyson has observed, that Galen recommended
the dissection of the quadromânes, with a particular regard to their
affinity with thé human species, as being more: useful than that of
any other animal, so it cannot be less interesting to. the naturalist
and philosopher, to make researches, how near to the human under*
standing, the highest degree of natural instinct may advance, and to
observe this through the varieus gradations of the different species of
quadromanes. On this/subject I shall take the liberty of extracting
a passage5h0m Professor Allamand’sadditiont to Buffon’s natural history:*“
Monsieur de Buffon suspects that there is some exaggeration
« in the account of Bontius, and some'little prejudice in what he
« relates of the marks of intelligence and modesty of his : female
«oran-otan; however, what he says is confirmed by those twh©
« have seen this animal in the Indies ; at least, I have heard the
“ same account given by several persons* who had been at Batavia,
« and who certainly were ignorant of what had been written by
« Bontius/’*
A similar action to that which probably gave rise to this opinion
of the modesty of the female oran-otan, I saw done here by a sapa?*
joU ;s it could not however be attributed to any natural sense d f
shame in the creature, but had evidently the appearance of that
kind of mechanical motion, in which we frequently see other animals
instructed, though done with more expertness and sagacity.
Some more observations on the natural history of’ this country, I
shall take tlic pleasure to send you at another time.
* M. de Buffon soupçonne qufil y a un pen d’exagération dans le récit de Bonti.us, ét
Un peude préjugé dans cé qu’il raconte des marques d’intelligence et de pudeur de sa
femelle orang-dutang cependant, ce qu’il en dit est confirmé par c e ix qui: ont vu'ces
animaux aux Indes; au moins j ’ai entendu la même chose de plusieurs personnes qui
»voient été à Batavie, et qui sûrement ignoraient ce qu’en a écrit Bontius”. Supplement
à T Historié'Naturelle de M . B u ffo n , u t supra.
L J îT ]
L E T T ER X V I I .
D ep a rtu re fro th PtiiwMmee, in the
'' U n ite fS ta te s.^ T o u r io BostoU,*<Aidr(kurn'toEfdVidetice.—UettiYork.
''df- TfdsMrigtpn^---Alexandria.
—Mdum t^riMt—Eeturn to‘ DMtadelpMd, and Mew lTdrk.—
On the fellou the Inhabitants
o f the United States.— Departure f lr Europe.—Arrival at Lisbon.
M y D eAB, S ir-, * ' Paramaribo, June ]sl, lj$07.
jTh » : many disasters my native :cquntry»i§; suffering under at this
time,- in consequence of which all correspondence from thence tq
this ppjfc pjf tl^e world is entirely interrupted; together with the
great distance, which contributes much, to multiply the exaggerated
reports, that form, here the topiq of all conversation; ' my coiise-
quent distaste .for society; the finding no more relief in my once
favourite walks, which now seem. to. be overspread with a mourning
veil,(all induce,:pie to return to Europe; for cheerfulness, the.prin-
pipal. .c^qse of preserving health in this climate, is entirely bar*
nishcd.-^-rl have therefore come to a resolution to return with the
first convenient opportunity; but it is necessary, to avoid the risk
of f>eing, taken again in, the course of the voyage by a privateer, to
wait for a neutral vessel.; and there are none other here but.Ameri-;
cans returning to the United States. I have however received many
cautions pn this point: it is said “ that the captains trading, from
that quarter, often take a qumber of passengers who are considerably
drained in their fortune, and whom some of them consider -
nearly equal to a cargo Qf negroes; besides* from the high idea they.
A a