He sometimes made himself a nest in a large tree near the house, and, watching when any one approached with fruit or eggs, would come down and endeavour to steal them. He is fond of coffee, and runs eagerly after the servants to procure it. The natives are very fond of the animal, and it appears more attached to them than to Europeans. Not being found in Java, it is regarded as a great curiosity; the natives assigning to it a superior degree of intelligence. The animal, having been presented to the commander of a ship to take to Europe, the servants declared, that it had overheard the conversation of its being about to migrate, and always appeared melancholy whenever this gentleman visited the house; adding also, that it was the cause of its present illness.
The engraving of this animal, in Dr. Abel’s work on China, was immediately recognized by the natives; and his interesting account accords with the generally observed habits. Excepting in intellectual development, I do not consider the orang-utan so closely resembles the human species as the Hylobates syndactyla, or Ungka ape, which walks more erect; and, in its internal anatomy, is more closely allied to the human race.
Being desirous of gaining some information respecting the usual height these animals attain, I consulted several persons who had visited Borneo, one of whom had been for some time a prisoner in the interior: the greatest elevation the animal had been seen was four feet three or four inches; at first it was stated to be eight feet, but, on further explanation, it was found the animal had been measured with the arms elevated above the head, which of course made a material difference. Its most usual height is from two and a half to three feet, when erect. These animals can be procured with facility, at Borneo, for one or two dollars; but, if not procured young, little dependence can be placed on their surviving, as they become so strongly attached to their masters, that a separation will cause them to pine and die. The animal at Mr. Davis’s improved in health in a few days, but never evinced any inclination to cultivate the acquaintance of strangers; he was much attached to a Malay female, and a little Malay boy, who resided in the same house with him, and the latter was his principal playmate.
Society in Batavia is a dead letter; bachelors smoking and drinking parties are, in many instances, common; ruining the health, and occasioning the death of many, particularly strangers. The cause of frequent mortality is, in many instances, attributed to climate, that should be laid to the charge of imprudence. From the little I saw of the Batavian ladies, when returning from church in their gay equipages, they were not particularly attractive; the majority were tinged with a dark hue, probably sun-burnt; few can talk any language but Javanese and Dutch; so there would be some difficulty for a stranger to judge of their intellectual powers. Bonnets not being fashionable in this country, an excellent view was afforded of their attractions. Some had four horses to their chariots, and a number of black servants perched up behind, according to the wealth or rank of the personage.
The Chinese are the principal artificers of the place, the Javanese preferring a military life; the Chinese are also the cultivators of the plantations and manufacturers of sugar, &c. Many of them may now be seen driving about in their carriages, possessed of great wealth, and owners of large estates, who arrived not many years since, pennyless; several large estates on the island are also owned by British subjects resident in England, having agents or superintendents here to look after them.
Flowers, of delicious fragrance, are sold about the streets, to adorn the dark forms of the Javanese females, or lavish their fragrance upon the fairer Batavians, who are extravagantly fond of this article of luxury.
The animals of Java are very numerous, the island being rich in zoological and botanical productions; the small or Java rhinoceros is numerous about Ceram, in the district of Bantam; it is often shot, but all endeavours to procure living specimens have as yet failed. Tigers are also numerous, and consist of three species, the Matchan Itum, or black tiger; the Matchan Toetoel, or leopard; and the Matchan Loreng, or royal striped tiger.
There are two species of doves seen in great numbers about the habitations of the Javanese; one being small, the other of a delicate cream colour, with a narrow black semicircular mark about the neck. The small species (which is most esteemed) is called “Perkutut” by the Javanese, and the larger one “Puter.” Conversing with a Javanese about them, he appeared delighted to give me some account of his pets; seeing them attended with so much care I inquired the reason of their being such favourites, in preference to birds of far more beautiful plumage, so abundant on this magnificent and fertile island? In answer to my inquiry he informed me, that, “when these birds are kept about the house, it will not be destroyed by fire, or be liable to the depredations of thieves:” as an instance of their having this power, should I be sceptical on the subject, he gravely assured me that during the heavy rains in Feb. 1832, when most of the houses were inundated, one was preserved from the flood by this bird being within, the water flowed round the habitation, but did not enter!
When the birds are kept in a state of confinement, it is said by the Javanese, that they pass small green stones, sometimes one every week, and continuing for one or two years; these stones are much esteemed, valued as high as thirty and forty rupees each, and are set in rings, &c. The stones, according to native information, are always passed upon a Friday; (which is the Javanese Sunday;) some set as high a value upon their birds as fifty and one hundred rupees each. The natives never eat them; a European, at one time, shot some, and gave them to his Javanese servant to eat, not being aware of their veneration for them, but he would not touch them. Every Friday they take the birds out of the cages, wash them in rice-water, at the same time administering some small pills, (composed of such a multiplicity of medicinal ingredients, that my Javanese informant said, it would take too long a time to give me the names of the whole,) otherwise the birds would not live; for if they were not washed, and did not take the physic, they would have small white worms in the corner of the eyes and in the nostrils, which would soon destroy them.