The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-08-02
An Army of Monkeys.
A NOVEL SUSPENSION BRIDGE.

"'They are coming towards the bridge; thev
will most likely cross by the rocks yonder,"
observed Raoul
"How-swim it?" asked. sit is torrent
there!'
Oh, no." answered the Frenchman; monkeys
would rather 90 into fire than water. II they
cannot leap the stream, they viii bridge it."
"Bri6ge it, and how?"
"Stop a moment Captafn-Vou shall eee."
The half human voices now sounded nearer,
and we could perceive that the animals were
approaching the spot where we Law. Presently
they appeared on the opposite bank, headed by
an old grey chiefiain and officered like so many
soldiers. They were, as Raou stated of tho
comadreja or ringtaied tribe.
One-an aid-de-camp, or chief pioneer, per-
haps-ran out on projecting rock. and, after
looking across the etream as II calculating the
distance scampered back and appeared to COM
municate with the leader. This produced a
movement in the troop. Commands were is
sued and the fatigue parties were detailed and
marched to the front. Meanwhile several of
the comadrejas engineers, no doubt--ran along
the bank examining the trees on both sides of
the arroyo.
At length they all collected around tall cot
tonwond that grew over the narrowest part of
the stream and 20 or so Of them scampered up
its trunk. On reaching high point, the fore
most-a strong feflow-ran ont upon limb,
and taking several turns Of his tail around it,
slipped off and hung head downwards. The
next on the limb, also stout one, climtd down
the body Of the first, and whipped his tail tight.
| " round the neck and forearm Of the latter,
| dropped off in his turn, and hung head down.
The third repeated this maneuvre upon the
second. and the fourth upon the third. and so on,
until the last one on the string rests his fore
paws upon the ground.
The living chain now commenced swinging
backwards and forwards, like the pendulum OF
a clock.-The motion was slight at first, but
gradually increased, the lowernnost monkey stri-
king his hands violently on the earth as he
passed the tangent of the oscillating curve.
Several others upon the limbs above aided the
| movement
This continued until the monkey at the end
OF the chain was thrown among the branches
of tree on the opposite bank. Here. after two
or three vibrations, he clutched limb and held
| fast. This movement was executed adroitly,
just at the eliminating point of the oscillation.
in order TO save the intermediate links from the
violence OF too sudden jerk!
| The chain now was fast at both ends, forming
CoiDpltte euopeholon DIiuSts VVtE WuICh ttl0
whole troop, 10 the number Of four or five hun
dred, passed with the rapidity of thought.
| It was one of the most comcal sights ever
beheld TO witness the quizzica expression of
countenances along that living chain!
The troop was now on the other side, but
how were the animals forming the bridge to
get themselves over This was the question
which suggested itself. Manifestly, BY number
one letting 60 his tail. But then the point dap-
pu on the other side was much lower down,
and number one with halfa-dozep of bis negh-
bours, would be dashed against the opposite
bank, or soused into the water.
| Here. then, was a problem, and we waited
with some curiosity for its solution. 1t was
soon solved.-A monkey was now seen attach
ing his tail to the lowest on the bridge, another
! girded him in a similar manner, and another,
and so on, until dozen more were added to
Inc string. These last were all powerful fell
lows; and, running up 70 high limb, they lifted
the bridge into position almost horizontal.
| Then a scream from the last monkeK OF the
new formation warned the tail end that all was
ready; and the next moment the whole cham
was swung over and landed safely on the oppo.
site bank. The lowermost links now dropped
off like melting candle, while the higher ones
leaped to the branches and came down by the
trunk. The whole troop then scampered OF in
to the chappare and Disappeared! p
Capt Reds Adventures in South America.