This singular animal is destined by nature to live upon the trees. He
is rare and solitary; and, as he is good for food, he is much sought
after by the Indians and negroes. He is ill at ease on the ground,
having no soles to his feet, which are so formed as to enable him to
cling to the branches of trees, from which he suspends himself.
Mr. Waterton kept one of these animals in his room for several months.
"I often took him out of the house," says he, "and placed him on the
ground, in order to get a good opportunity of observing his motions. If
the ground was rough, he would pull himself forward, by means of his
fore legs, at a pretty good pace; but he invariably shaped his course
towards the nearest tree. But if I put him upon a smooth and
well-trodden part of the road, he appeared to be in trouble and
distress: his favorite abode was on the back of a chair; and after
getting all his legs in a line upon the topmost part of it, he would
hang there for hours together, and often, with a low and inward cry,
would seem to invite me to take notice of him."
The same author thus describes an adventure with a sloth: "One day, as
we were crossing the Essequibo, I saw a large two-toed sloth on the
ground upon the bank. How he got there was a mystery. The Indian who
was with me said that he never surprised a sloth in such a situation
before. He could hardly have come there to drink; for, both above and
below, the branches of the trees touched the water, and afforded him a
safe and easy access to it. Be this as it may, he could not make his
way through the sand time enough to escape before we landed. As soon as
we got up to him, he threw himself upon his back, and defended himself
in gallant style with his fore legs. 'Come, poor fellow,' said I to
him, 'if thou hast had a hobble to-day, thou shalt not suffer for it;
I'll take no advantage of thee in misfortune. The forest is large
enough for thee and me to rove in; go thy ways up above, and enjoy
thyself in these endless wilds. It is more than probable thou wilt
never again have an interview with man. So, fare thee well!'
"Saying this, I took up a long stick which was lying there, held it for
him to hook on, and then conveyed him to a high and stately tree. He
ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in about a minute he was at the
top. He now went off in a side direction, and caught hold of the branch
of a neighboring tree. He then proceeded towards the heart of the
forest. I stood looking on, lost in amazement at his singular mode of
progression, and followed him with my eyes till I lost sight of him."