Washington telegraph., 1854-05-03
MONKEY Soup-Lieut. HEnNDoN, who


MONKEY SoUP.-Lieut HERNDoN, who
was appointed by the Navy Department, to
make an exploration of the Amazon and its
tributaries. has finished his travels'in South
America, and written book. We have
seen it, and it certainly abounds in marvel
lous tales. In some parts of the country,
over which he travelled, there was great
scarcity of provisions. and monkey soup
was all the rage. 1t was as great dish
among the rude natives of Peru, as bull
frogs are with some very fashionable people
in Louisiana and elsewhere. None but per.
sons of the most refined and cultivated taste
are fond of these dishes Lieut. HERNDoN
often ate of the monkey and partook Of tbs
soup too. He had clear right 70 eat monkey
and drink the soup if he felt like it; out
for our part we would say "come deatE
first" The man who would deliberately
set down and eat the meat of a monkey. ol
drink monkey soup. has stomach for any
thing. We would be tempted to shoot q
buzzard or a dog for doing it. If the Gov
ernment should ever send US on an ezplo
ring expedition, it must be distinctly under
stood in advance, that whenever it become:
necessary for us to eat monkey, we shall be
permitted to beat retreat, and fall bach
into section of country better provid
ed with provisions This is the only con
dition upon which we will make explorations
for Uncle Sam; and we hope the authorize;
at Washington, will not appoint Us to such
a service, unless upon the condition We have
named. But that the reader may be in nc
doubt about what we state, we give the follow
ing extract from 1t. HERNDoY's Report
1--WE found the river to-day much choked
with islands, shoals. and grounded drift
wood camped at halfpast Eve, and supped
upon monkey soup. The monkey, as it re-
CARDS toughness was monkey still but the
liver, of which ate nearly the whole, was
tender and good Jocko however. had bi:
revenge, for [ nearly perished of nightmare
Some devil, with arms as nervous as the
monkeys, had me by the threat and, star
ing on me with his cold. cr,lel eye, express
ed his determination to hold on to the death
[ thought it hard to die by the grasp Of thit
fend on the banks of the strange river. and
50 early in my course and upon making q
desperate effort. and shaking him of. found
that had forgotten to take off my cravat
which was choking me within an inch Of my
life."
1t seems that they not only have strange
diet in South America, and variety Of
soups; but very singular marriages take
place among the enlightened inhabitants d
that region. IF all Lieutenant HERNDoN
says is true, we would advise the Govern
ment to send Captain BRAGG there with hi.
Battery, we'll supplied with grape Senc
him and let him turn loose Read wha
Lieut.. II. says:
IN. Castelnau says, after giving these re
lations, L will add but a word Descending
the Amazon, l saw one day, near Fontebo;
a black Coata, of enormous dimensions
He belonged to an Indian woman. to whom
offered a large price, for the country, fol
the curious beast but she refused me will
burst of laughter your efforts are use
less" said an Indian who was in the cabin
that is her husband
These Coatas, of which l had several
are large, black, pot-bellied monkey
They average about two and half feet il
height, have few thin hairs on the top O
their head, aud look very much like an olt
negro"