The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-06
Thursday Morning, April 6, 1866.
Anecdotes Of a Monkey.


mate with a greater antipathy towards these
wild mem than l did. l lived years in their
vcinlty'and yet contrived TO avoid all contact
with them, and it was not till was homeward
bound that my conversion was effected. The
ship in which Mr.. Bowditch and myself took
around-about course to England, was floating
on wide expanse OF water, disturbed only
by the heavy swell, which forms the sole mo-
tion ia CALM The watch on deck were
seated near the bows OF the vessel; the
passengers and officers were almost all below.
There was only myself and the helmsman on
the aiterdeck; he stood listlessly by the bin
nacle, aud was wholly occupied in reading
A noise between squeak and chatter sud
denly met my ears; and, before could turn
my head to see whence it preceded, heavy
living creature jumped on to my shoulders
from behind, and its tail encircled my throat.
1felt 1t was Jack, the cooks monkey; the
mischievous, malicious, mocking, but inimita-
BILE Jack, whose pranl1s had often made me
laugh against my will, as | watched him from
distance, but with whom had never made
the least acquaintance. Whether from fear or
presence OF mind do not pretend to say. but
remand perfectly still, and in minute or
two Jack put his head forward and stared me
in tie face, uttering sort of crack. He then
descended on to my knees, examined nv
hands as If he were counting my fingers, tried
to take of my rings, and, when gave him
some biscuit, curled himself complaceptly in
TO my lap. We were friends from that mo-
ment. Ny aversion thus cured, / have ever
since felt indescribable interest and entertain
ment in watching, studying and protecting
monkeys. We had several on board the above
mentioned vessel, but Jack was the prince OF
them all. 8r Asi .g5 s7
Exclusively belonging to the cook, although
fayorite with the whole crew, my friend Ia
Ceropithecus, from Senegal) had been at first
kept by means OF a cord, attached to the ca
boose; but as he became more and more tame,
his liberty was extended, till at last he was
allowed the whole range of the ship, with the
exception OF the captains and passengers
cabins. The occupation which he marked out
for himself began, at early dawn, by over
turning the stewards parrOt-cage whenever
he could get at it, in order to secure the lump
of sugar which then rolled out, or lick up tie
water which ran from the upsetcup. He evil
deDtly Intended to pull the parrots feathers,
but the latter, by turning round as fast as
Jack turned, always faced him, and his beak
wa too formidable to be encounterea Il WAS
frequently awakened by the quick trampling
of feet at this early hour, and knew 1t arose
from pursuit OF Jack in consequence of
some mischief on his part. Like all other
nautical monkeys, he descended into The fore
castle, where he twisted off the night-caps of
the sailors as they lay in their hammocks,
stole their knives, tools, DC, and if they were
not very active in the pursuit, tn Sc p1rloin-
ings were thrown overheard. .5 ~
When the preparations Tor breakfast began,
Jack took his post in corner near the CRATE,
and when the cocks back was turned, hooked
out the pieces of biscuit which were toasting
between the bars for the men, and snatched
the punches OF dried herbs, with which they
tried to initiate tea, out OF the tin mugs. lie
sometimes scalded or burnt his fingers by
these tricks, which kept him quiet for a few
days; but no sooner was the pain gone than
he repeated the mischief notices f m
Pr Two days 10 each week, the pigs, which
formed part Of our live stock, were allowed to
n run about the deck for exercise, and then Jack
was particularly happy. Hidiag himself boz
hind cask, he would suddenly spring to the
back of oae OF them, his face TO the tail, and
away scampered his frightened steed. Some
times an obstacle would impede the gallop
and then Jack, loosening the hold which he
had acquired by digging his nails into the
skin OF the pig, industriouslyl tried to uncur
its tall and ii he were saluted by laugh
from some one near By, he woald look up will
an assumed air OF wonder, as much as to say
What can you find tolaugh at? When the
pigs wer5 shut up, he thought it his turn tt
give the others ride, and there were thret
little monkeys with red skins and blue faces
whom he particularly favored. frequently
met him with all of them on his back at th'
came time, squeaking and budding together
and with difficulty preserving their seat
when he suddenly stopped and seemed to ask
me to praise the good -natured action which
he was performing. He was, however, jeal
ous of Rli those OF his brethren who came II
contact with me, and freed himself from twl
of his rivals by throwing them into the sea
One OF them was small lion monkey, 0
great beauty and gentleness, and Immediately
after had been feeding him, Jack called hin
with coaxing, patronizing air, bnt at soon a
he was within reach the perfidious creatur,
seized him by the nape of his neck, and, a
quick as thought, popped him over the side o
the ship.
We were going at brisk rate and, although
rope was thrown out to him, the poor little
screaming thing was soon left behind, yer,
much to my distress, for his almost huma
agony of countenance was painful to beholc
For this Jack was punished by being shut u
all day in the empty hen-eoop, in which b
usually passed the night, and which he s
hated that when bedtime came, he general
avoided the clutches of the steward. He
however, committed so much mischief, wheI
unmatched, that it had become necessary :
conf1ne him at night, and | was often obliged
to perform the office of nurse maid. jack
principal punishment, however, was to b
taken in front of cage In which panthe
the deck. His alarm was intense; the par
ther set up his back and growled, but Jack il
stanily closed his eyes and made himself pei
fectly rigid. / generally held him up by tn
tail, and if [ moved he opened one eye; but
he caught sight of even corner of the Gag,
he shut it fast, and again pretended to b
dead. .ses sfg .sssu
His drolest trick was practised on poo
little black monkey; taking the opportunit
when calm, similar to that spoken OF abov
left him nearly the sole possessor of the dec
1 do not know that he saw me, for was 81
ting behind the companion door. The me
had been painting the ship outside, and wei
putting broad band of white upon her, whe
they went to dinner below, leaving their pail
and brushes on the deck. Jack enticed d
victim to him, who Immediately obeyed Il
summons; and seizing him with one nan
with the other, took the brush and c)yert
him with the white fluid from head to foe
The laugh Of the man at the helm called n
attention to the circumstance, and as soon
Jack perceived that he was discovered,
dropped his dripping brother, and rapid
scampered up the rigging till he gained tt
msin-top, where he stood with his nose b
tween the bars looking at what was going G
below. As the other monkey began to lie
himself, called up the steward. who washe
him with turpentine and no harm ensued: b,
Jack was afraid to come down. and only aft,
three days had passed In his elevated pla0n.
refuge did hunger compel him to descend. +
chose the moment when was sitting on decl
10