The Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. 1 (1832) edited by James Prinsep
Chapter No. 8, Section II, Page 338: On the Mammalia of Nepal By B. H. Hodgson
Family Quadrumana.
There are no monkeys in the northern and central* regions; and those of the southern region are identical, so far as I know, with the ordinary species of the plains, viz. the langur and the bandar. There are no others that I am aware of.
I am not acquainted with any animal of the genus Lemur in Nepal; but the, for the most part, nocturnal habits of these animals tend to withdraw them from observation. It is probable, that the slow-paced Loris, at least, inhabits the lower hills; and possible, that species of other sub-genera are tenants of that immense solitude.
* Religion has introduced the Bandar into the central region, where it seems to flourish, half domesticated, in the neighbourhood of temples, in the populous valley of Nepal proper. My shooters were once alarmed in the Kachar by the apparition of a “wild man,” possibly an ourang, but I doubt their accuracy. They mistook the creature for a cacodemon or rakshas, and fled from it instead of shooting it. It moved, they said, erectly: was covered with long dark hair, and had no tail.
Disclaimer: This 1832 book excerpt was published prior to 1931. Under United States copyright law (specifically the 95-year rule), this work has entered the public domain and is thus free to use or republish. It is presented here as an interesting and folkloric oddity.
Note: “ourang” is an archaic alternative spelling of the word orangutan.
Source(s): https://archive.org/details/journalofasiatic01asia/page/338/mode/2up
Categories: Abominable Snowman, Book Excerpts