It has been said, that the huge canine teeth of the Orang are for the purpose of defending himself against the tigers, bears, and other carnivorous animals of the Eastern forests. Our observations and inquiries as to the habits of the animal convince us, however, that no such explanation of this part of the animal's structure is at all satisfactory.
In the first place, neither the tiger nor any other of the large carnivora are found in Borneo, where the Orang is most abundant; though in Sumatra the tiger and the Mias are found together. In the second place, the tiger cannot climb trees, and is therefore quite unable to attack the Orang, which never need descend to the ground, and very rarely does so. The Malayan Bear (Helarctos Malayanus) is the only animal which would have any chance whatever in attacking him; but as it is not carnivorous (or but slightly so), it could have no object in commencing an attack in which it [[p. 29]] would probably be beaten.
The Dyaks are unanimous in their statements that the Mias never either attacks or is attacked by any animal, with one exception, which is highly curious, and would hardly be credible were it not confirmed by the testimony of several independent parties, who have been eye-witnesses of the circumstance. The only animal the Mias measures his strength with is the Crocodile of these regions (Crocodilus biporcatus?). The account of the natives is as follows:-- "When there is little fruit in the jungle, the Mias goes to the river-side to eat the fruits that grow there, and also the young shoots of some palm-trees which are found at the water's edge. The crocodile then sometimes tries to seize him, but he gets on the reptile's back, beats it with his hands and feet on the head and neck, and pulls open its jaws till he rips up the throat. The Mias always kills the crocodile, for he is very strong. There is no animal in the jungle so strong as he."