The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-03-06
Monkey sagacity .

It was In wild and dreary part OF tho
country, in the plains of India, while
journeying that one day friend and
self sat down under the shade of an UNI
brageous banyun-tree, and we were en-
ioying a meal of various edihles, to lie
washed down by glass of Bass's best.
when we were disturbed by the arrival
and the noise of blacl-face monkey
the branches overhead literally swarmed
with them. They looked ON us as IN
terlopers, nc doubt, and for some time
their gestures appeared so menaoing
that we were app extensive they would
dispute the ground with us. But, af-
ter a time, things seemed TO settle
down, and We went on with our repast
in peace. We had just risen from our
meal, and were strolling forth from JIn-
der the shade, when, to our surprise,
one of the monkeys, young ono, fell
down from a high br.neh at our feet.
1t was quite dead. The clamor that
rose above as, on the occurrence Of this
calamity, was deafening. The whole as
sembly of monkeys clustered together
for a confab. Long ana loud were the
chatterings and varied the grimaees OF
the tribe, each individuals vying with
the other in the loudness of bis tongue.
Their looks and gestures made it appa-
rent that they suspected rs as being tho
cause of the death of their juvenile
comrade; and, had we had gun in our
hands, or any other mur derous weapons.
we should no doubt have been set upon
and maltreated. But we were unarmed
and the good sense OF the monkeys
seemed to tell them that there must be
some other culprit. Having come tothis
conclusion, one monkey, apparently the
| senior and leader of the whole tribe,
/ separated himself from the rest, ran TO
the spot on the branch whence the
/ monkey had fallen, examined it cagcful-
! iy, smelt the branch, and then giided
nimbIy down one of the pillars or pen
dent roots, with which the banyan-tree
is so richly furnished, and came 90 the
corpse Of the monkey, took it mp, ex-
amined it infinitely, particularly the
shoulder, where there WAS a wound
/ n
smaller. Instinct Immediately turned
suspicion into certainty. He placed
the corpse on the ground again, aud,
/ turning his gaze in every direction, en-
deavored to pierce the foliage in his
search for the murderer. After little
while something seemed to rivet his ut-
tention It WIS but FOR a moment-the
next instant he had mounted the tree
sprung 10 the spot, and, with one clutch
had seized long whip-snake, with
| whieh lie FASTENED to the ground. Now
| occurred a most curious scence. Tie
whole monkey rabble, following tlcir
leader in his rapid movement, were on
the Qronnd almost as soon as be and
/ then. as many as could, ranged them
selves ON each side of the snake; each
monkey put his hand on the reptile,
clutching hold Of the skin Of the back
tightly. At given signal, tho ezecu-
TONERS dragged tho body Of the Hrith-
ing snake backward and forward on tho
ground, till nothing Was left Of the
murderer but the backbone. The mode
of execution was at once summary and
effectuaI and, in the way ia which it
was carried ont, was manifest the clear
understanding which the monkey lan-
guage conveys. Itreminds me of the lin
90 of some OF the Paharee tribes Of the
Himaiayas, which consists Of a string or
succession Of sounds ike ha-ha-ho0-hOo
equally unintelligible 10 uz
as the gatherings Of the monkey, but
: very well understood by the I" hoonoo-
mans " by whom il is used even as the
: monkeys can comprehend ono another.
! - Tefqg5re IfOfr