fize and strength. Man, therefor, in a state of nature, was, if not the real ourang-outang of the

Tyfons Anatomy of a Pigmie, p. 5, &c. Man, among other attempts at definition, has been denominated a laughing animal. Laughter, however, is not alltogether peculiar to the human fpecies. As mifter Barrow was afcending the pass of Roode-Sand Kloef, the baboons, fays he, from their conceal'd dens, in the fides of the mountain, laugb'd, fcream'd, and utter'd fuch horrible noifeës, the whole time, that, to a stranger, not knowing, from whence they proceeded, they exciteed no fmall degree of furprise, (Travels in Southern Africa, p. 70). The Hottentots, fays captain Beeckman, are not, really, unlike monkeys or baboons in their gestures and postures, especially when they fit funing themselves, as they often do in great numbers. When they speak, they seem rather to cackle like hens or turkeys, than speak like men, (Voyage to Borneo, p. 187). "The Bosjesmans," according to Barrow, (p. 277), are amongst the uglyeft of all human beings. The flat nose, high cheek-bones, prominent chin and concave vifage, partake much of the apeish character, which their keen eye, allways in motion, tends not to diminish," (Travels in Southern Africa, p. 277). The apes correct their young in the manner of good christians. I once, fays Labillardiere, witness'd a fingular fact, which shews what authority thefe animals possess over their young. A large ape, that was follow'd by a very little one, thinking himself unobserve'd, took it up of its paws, and beat it for a confiderable space of time with the other. If the ape, he ads, knew how to proportion the punishment to the offence, the cub must have been very naughty, for he got a moft fevere beating (Voyage in fearch

in one

;

forefts and mountains of Afia or Africa at the present day, at least, an animal of the fame family, and very nearly refembleing it. The formation, the anatomy, the ftrength, the general appearance, of the two animals, are much the fame, or would, at least, be fo in a state of nature. Each would make the like use of its hands and feet for it can be prove'd, not onely, that man, in fuch a state, would frequently make use of his hands for feet, and walk upon all-four; but, allso, that the ourang-outang frequently ftands and walks, erect, like a civilize'd man, and occafionally ufees a ftaf. Their food, their habits, their employments, and mode of life, would, likewife, be precifely, or nearly fimilar and, in a word, without depriveing man of his preeminent fituation at the head of his clafs, the refembleance between him and the ourang-outang is too ftrong to deny that they are, at least, distinct fpecies of one and the fame genus.*

of La Peroufe), i, 137. The natives of New Holland are cover'd with vermin. We admire'd the patience of a mother, who, like moft of the blacks, cruth'd thefe filthy infects between her teeth, and then swallow'd them. It is to be remark'd that apes have the fame custom [which is wel known to the Spanish virgins, particularly toward their sweethearts].

* See doctor Tyfons Anatomy of a Pygmie, p. 92, &c,

3

"The form of the orang-outang," fays the ingenious Smellie, "makes the nearest approach to the human; and the arts he employs for his defence, the actions he performs, and the fagacity he discovers, are so astonishing, that fome philofophers have confider'd him as a real human being in the most debafe'd stage of fociety." Man, indeed, by some fingular and unaccountable accident or event, has acquired the art of forming articulate founds, and applying them to the expresfion of ideas and things, which, aded to his focial intercourse, and the habits of civilize'd life, has raife'd him to a far fuperior and more elevateed rank: but this can be no folid objection to the prefent fystem, as language is no more natural to man than to many other animals, which actually make use of it: as the parrot, for instance, the raven, the magpie, the jack-daw, and the starling; and, posfiblely, even, the ourang-outang, and the rest of the monkey tribe.f

where he gives the several and respective instanceës in which his "orang-outang or Pygmie (not the beft or nearest species) more resemble'd a man than apes and monkeys," and vice versâ. Compare, likewife, the engrave'd figure of the skeleton of this animal with that of a human being, and fee how much of little difference there is between them.

* Philofophy of natural bistory, i, 53.

+ The negros fay, of the monkeys, that they can speak if

No man, left to himself from the moment of his birth, would ever be able to utter an articulate

they wil, but are afray'd to confess it, left they should be made to work and Goldsmith, from Buffon, gives a curious account of the Ouarine, a species of monkey remarkable for the loudness and distinctness of their voice, and ftil more fo for the ufe to which they convert it. "I have, frequently, been a witnefs," fays Morgrave," of their asfemblys and deliberations. Every day, both morning and evening, the ouarines asfemble in the woods, to receive inftructions. When all come together, one among the number takes the highest place on a tree, and makes a fignal, with his hand, to the rest to fit round, in order to hearken. As foon as he fees them place'd, he begins his discourse, with fo loud a voice, and yet in a manner fo precipitate, that, to hear him at a distance, one would think the whole company were crying out at the fame time: however, dureing that time, one onely is speaking, and all the rest observe the most profound filence. When this has done, he makes a fign, with his hand, for the reft to reply; and, at that inftance, they raise their voicees together, until, by another fignal of the hand, they are enjoin'd filence. This they as readyly obey; til, at laft, the whole assembly breaks up, after hearing a repetition of the fame preachment." (History of the earth, iv, 226). This kind of monkey feems to be of the presbyterian or methodist persuasion, which enthufiafts, at least, they appear to imitate in their religious exhortations. He, allfo, proves "that articulation is not natural to man ;" and that language was the invention of society, and rofe from natural inarticulate crys.

Doctor Tyfons Pygmie was "the most gentle and loveing creature that could be. Those that he knew a fhip-board he would come and embrace with the greatest tenderness, opening

found; language or speech must be taught to (as it was, most probablely invented by) young children, and is the effect of education, not of nature: but of this more hereafter.

The translator of The history of voyageës, as citeed by Rousfeau, tels us that there is found in the kingdom of Congo a great number of thofe large animals call'd in the Eaft Indies ourangoutang; forming a kind of middle order of beings between men and baboons.* Battel relates, that, in the forests of Mayomba, in the kingdom of Loango, there are two forts of monfters the bigeft of which are call'd pongos, and the other enjokos. The former, fays he, are exactly like men, but much largeër and taller. Their face is human, but hath very hollow eyes. Their hands, cheeks and ears, are quite bare of hair to their eye-brows, which are very long. The other parts of their bodys are pretty hairy, and the hair is of a brown colour. In fine, the onely thing by which they can be distinguish'd from the human species is the form of their legs, which

their bofoms, and clasping his hands about them; and, though there were monkeys abroad, 'twas observe'd he would never asfociate with them, and, as if nothing akin to them, allways avoid their company." (Anatomy, &c. p. 7.)

*Notes on Inequality of mankind.

C