Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-15
EVENING STAR.
HOW APES CATCH CRABS.

traveller in Java relates the following
amusing scene, which he witnessed in the
company of some of the natives:
After walking close up to the old campaign,
they were upon the point of turning back,
when young fellow emerged from the thick
ct, and said few words to the mandoor
The latter turned with laugh TO Frank, and
asked him if he had ever seen apes catch
crabs. Frank replied in the negative, and
the mandOor taking his hand, led him gently
and cautiously through the deserted village,
to spot which the young fellow had pointed
out, and where the old man had formerly
planted hedges, rendering it an easy task for
them to approach unobserved
At length they reached the boundary Of the
former settlements dry sandy strip Of
beach, where all vegetation ceased, and only
single pandanus tree, whose roots were
| thickly interlaced with creeping plants, form
ed as it were the advanced post of the vegeta-
bic kingdom Behind this they crawed along,
and cautiously raising their heads, they saw
several apes, at distance of two or three
hundred PAGES, who were partly looking for
something as they walked up and down the
beach, while others stood motionless
1t was the long tailed, brown variety, and
Frank was beginning to regret that he had
not his telescope with him, to watch the mo-
tions of these strange beings more closely,
when one of them, tremendous large fellow
began to draw nearer to them Carefully ex.
amining the ground, over which he went with
all fours, he stood at intervals to scratch him
self, or to snap at some insect that buzzed
around him.
He came 30 close that Frank fancied that
he must scent them, and give the alarm to
the other monkeys, when suddenly passing
over little elevation covered with withered
reedy grass, he here discovered a party Of
crabs, parading up and down on the hot sand
With bound he was amongst them, but not
quick enough to catch a single one; for the
crabs, though apparently so clumsy, darted
like lightning into quantity Of small holes
or cavities, which made the ground here re-
semble seive, and the ape could not thrust
his claws after them, for the orifce was too
narrow.
The mandoor nudged Frank gently to draw
his attention, and they saw the ape, after
crawling up and down the small strip Of land,
and peeping into the various holes, with his
nose close to the ground, suddenly seat him
self very gravely by one of them, which he
fancied most suitable. He then brought
round his long tail to the front, thrust the
end Of it into the cavity, until he met with
an obstacle, and suddenly made face which
so amused Frank, that he would have laughed
loudly, had not the mandoor raised his finger
warIingly-and directly the ape drew out his
tail with jerk. At the end of it, however.
hung the desired booty, fat crab, by one of
its claws, and swinging it round on the ground
with such violence as to make it loose its
hold, he took it in his left paw, picked up
stone with the other, and after cracking the
shell, devoured the savory contents with eyi
dent satisfaction.
Four or five he thus caught in succession on
each occasion when the crab nipped him
making face Of heroic resignation and pain,
but each time he was successful, and he must
have found in the dainty dish, and the re
venge for the nip, abundant satisfaction for
the pain he endured, or else he would not
have set to work again so soon.
Thus then the ape, quite engaged with the
sport, and without taking his eyes off the
ground, had approached to within about
twenty PAGES Of the party concealed behind
the pandanus tree. Here, again, the ground
was full of holes, and looking out the Cne he
conjectured to be the best he threw in his lire
once more, and probably felt that there was
Something alive within, for he awaited the r.
suit with signs of the most eager attention.
The affair, however, lasted longer than he
anticipated, but being already well filled by |
his past successful hauls, be pulled up his |
knees, laid his arms upon them, bowed up his |
head, and, half closing his eyes, he assumed
&C n a resigned and yet exquisitely uomical |
face as only an ape is capable Of putting on |
under these circumstances.
But bis quiet was destined 10 be disturbed
in manner as unsupported as it was cruel /
lie must have discovered some very interest
ing object in the clouds, for he was staring up /
there fixedly, when he uttered a loud yell, let /
hold o. his knees, felt with both hands for his i
tail, and made bound ii the air as if the Il
ground under him was growing red hot. At j
the eLl of his tail, however, hung a gigantic 1
crab, torn with desperate energy from his /
hiding place, and Frank, who could restrain |
himself no longer, then burst into a laugh
The mandoor at first retained his gravity |
but when the ape, alarmed by the strange /
sound, looked up and saw men, and then |
bounded away at full speed, with his tormen-
tor still dangling at the end of his tail, the /
cd man could no longer refrain either, and /
they both laughed till the tears ran down
their checks.
The ape, in the mean while, few across the /
narrow strip of sand, followed by all the
others, towards the jungle, and in a moment
after not single one was visible.
ANYBODY LIKE ME?-Any body Ike me /