Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-04-27
THE MONKEY PILGRIMS.

The following account of singular custom
among the monkeys in the East, is taken from
sketches of india, published in ssHousehold
Words" We have reason to believe the story
| is true.
| About two miles from the bungalow to which
| we were proceeding, we overlook tribe OF
large monkeys. l should say as many as four
hundred; and each carried a stick of uniform
length and shape. They moved along in ranks
or companies, just, in short, tho they were
initiating wing of regiment Of infantry.
At the head of this tribe was an old and very
powerful monkey who was no doubt the chief.
1t was very odd sight, and l became greatly
Interested in the movements of the creatures.
There could be question that they had
either some business or some pleasure on hand:
and the fact Of each carrying a stick led us to
conclude that it the former upon which
they were bent. Their destination was, like
ours, evidently Deobund, where there are
some hundreds Of monkeys fed by number
OF Brahimns, who live near Hindoc temple,
there, and perform religious ceremonies
They (this monkey regiment) would not get
out Of the road on our account, nor disturb
themselves in any way and my friend was
afraid to drive through their ranks, or over
any of them, for when asSailed they most
ferocious brutes, and armed as they were, and
IN such numbers, they could have annihilated
us with the greatest ease. There was no help
FOR us, therefore, but to let the mare proceed
at walk in the rear of the tribe, ,the members
of which, now that we were nearing DeoSund,
began TO chatter frightfully. Just before we
came to the bungalow, they left the road, and
took the direction OF the temple. Fain would
we have followed them, but to do in the
buggy would have been impossible, for they
crossed over some very rough ground and two
bitches. Ny friend therefore requested the
Sowars to follow them, and report all they
might observe of their actions.
t., ol he. hans
very old but very active and intelligent man,
the sight we had seen on the road-the regi-
ment OF monkeys.
eAh 20 exclaimed the old man, 'sit is about
the time.''
s.What time 20
s.Well, sahib, about every FIVE years that
tribe comes up the country to pay visit to
this place; and another tribe comes about the
same time from the up country-the hills.
They meet in jungle behind the old Hindoo
temple and there embrace each other as though
they were human beings and old friends who
had been parted for length of time. have
seen in that jungle many four or five
thousand. The Brahmins say that one large
tribe comes all the way from Ajmere, and an
other from the southern side of the country,
and from Nepal and Tirhoot. There were
hundreds of monkeys here this morning but
now do not see one. | suppose they have
gone to welcome their friends.''
The sowars who had been deputed to follow
the tribe now rode up, and reported that, in
the vicinity of the old temple, there was an
army of apes-an army of forty thousand
One of the sowars, in the true spirit of ORR
entail eXaggeration, expressed himself to the
effect that it would be easier to count the
hairs of ones head than the number there as
sembled.
ssLet us go and look at them,'' suggested,
ssand by the time we return the lady may be
stirring.'
ssBut we win not go on foot ,''said my friend;
sswe viii ride the sowars' horses. In the first
place, have an instructive horror of apes,
and should like to have the means of getting
away from them speedily, if they became too
familiar or offensive. In the second place |
do not wish to fatigue myself by taking SO
long walk in the heat of the day"
We mounted the horses, and were soon at
the spot indicated by the sowars. There were
not SO many as had been represented but l
am speaking very far within bounds when /
state that there could not have been fewer
than eight thousand, and some of them of an
size. | could scarcely have be-
leved that there were many monkeys in
the world if had not visited Bcnares, and
heard of the tribes at Gibraltar Their sticks,
which were thrown together in heap, formed
a very large stack of wood.
ssWhat is this 20 my friend said to one of
the B.ahmins for since his appointment he
nad never nearu OF tnlS gatnerinS oI apes.
ssIt is festival of theirs, Sahib," was the
reply. ssJust as Hindoos, at stated times, go
to Hurdwar, Hagipore, and other places, so do
these monkeys come to this holy place."
ssAnd how long do they stay %
ssTwo or three days then, they go away to |
their homes in different parts OF the country; |
then attend to their business for four or five |
years; then, come again and do festival, and |
so on, to the end of all time, You see that
very tall monkey there, with two smaller ones
on each side of him l''
"Yes.''
ssWell, sir, that is very old monkey. His |
age is more than twenty years, L think. |
first saw him fifteen years ago. He was then |
fullgrown. His native place is Meerut. He |
lives with the Brahmins at the SooTj Khan, |
near Meerut. The smaller ones are his sons, |
sir. They have never been here before; and |
you see he is showing them all about the place,
like very good father
The consumption of gold leaf and plate in
the United States for the preservation and rem
ovation of teeth-amounts to about two and |
a quarter millions of dollars per annum.
Latterly the use of gold for the plating of ar
tificial teeth has been superseded in some
quarters by vulcanized rubber, which is found |
to combine lightness and pleasant degree of |