Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-14
NO. 40.
Cmetapec Monkeys.

There is a beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua bearing the name of Ometapec. In enght it IS about thirty miles, aud in breadth from ten to fifteen. It Is, perhaps, the most beautiful spot on the face of creation. Abounding in all the fruits, flowers ct H omne genus of tropical climate, with its extinguished volcanoes of Aapetaro, Madaira, and one bearing its own name It alike strikes the eye of the lover of the beautiful as wonderful combination of the grand and luxurious. It is inhabited by race ot lmbecle Indians, who do nothing; in fact, they are national embodiment of the dolce far ntente. Swinging in their hammocks from morning until evening, amidst the most beauti- tul groves of orange trees, their existence is poetical Tn the extreme. In addition to this Islands Indian population, will be found ani- mais oi every kind, size and shape incident to the cllmate,--among which is the Ometapec monkey, gentleman who can be found no where else Tn Central America. In height he IS nearly four feet, with long limbs, (four of them) and a still longer tail. Like most mon- keys the Ometapec is full of curiosity, mischief and fun; and moreover is not afraid of man, though when wounded is quite an ugly custo- mer to deal with, as he has the faculty of throwing stones, sticks and cocoanuts with in- Jurous precision. They cannot be domestcat- ed, but frequent the suburbs of the Indian vil- lages ot the island, for the purpose of appropri- atlng whatever, in their fits of roguishness they may see proper. If an Indian damse misses her riUOsa (shawD and does not know where It Is, she consoles herself with the expression: " ~ ""co este naucho mal0" The folwing anus Ing incident was said to have occurred on the Island wherein the monkeys were magna pars Juie:
 When General Walker occupied San Jorge, after the last fight of the Transit, and General Henningsen was still besieged in Granada, a company, recently arrived from the States, was ordered a board the steamer Virgin to go up to Granada to reconnoitre. A more lively lot of chaps never handled a "Minnie" They marched out of the plaza, at San Jorge, singing at the top of their voices, within their gallant captain (wAo poor fellow fell whit his face toward the enemy at Jocote,) at their head-- It was quite dark when they reached the island of Ometapec and a drizzling shower set in, making the prospect anything but cheerful
 Gen. s. who in charge of the party, or- dered Lieut.. H., with ten men, to go ashore in 6pngO to gather wood. The order was obeved with alacrty, and when the boys neared the shore, several ot them suggested the idea of the G2eaSers being on the island, and if such was the case, that thy would be "in fix" having only ten Tn the party, and the steamer, with the rest oi the company, eight hundred yards out in the lake. Keeping 'stiF upper lip," our friend Il. ueared the shore with his command, and scarcely had the bs1ngo touched the thick jungle growing down to the waters edge, be- fore the ears of the party were saluted with, what they thought regular Geaser yell- They stood to their arms, as they could see nothing on account of the darkness, but before poor Il. had time for reflection, the vines and leaves just above the bow of the bmgo became uIfl INY tal .,i,h
 howl two black objects jumped into the Jnngo lmmediatly every mans muSket was discharg- ed, and also one or two barrels of Lieut. Ills revolver. It is needless to say that there were two dead monkeys found in that buaq0 by an aid that was sent from the steamer to inquire about the firing If, afterwards, you wanted to fight just say to the victimized Lieut.. H., how are the Ometapec monkeys?''-your wishes could immediately be gratifed X.