The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-12-01
Monkeys to Order .

csssiui and very veal by shipowner,
nsving given more time to mouey-mak-
ing than to the cultivation of the intel.
iect, was considered by his business as
sociates little "of" in bis orthography
and kindred triffes. He may have be-
lieved with Dogberry, that reading and
writing came by nature, aud conse.
quently lost no time in the pursuit Of
such wild and visionary objects.
He sent an order to Bombay TO meet
there one of bis ships, which had sailed
from Liverpool some time previously,
such order telling what kind of cargo
was best adapted to the present condi.
tion of the market Among other
things the owner wrote for two mon.
keys. which he wanted to present to
some friends; bat departing from the
usual mode of spelling the word two,
he put it too. Perhaps the handwriting
was not very legible, as is often the
case with others than illIterate ship
owners. At any rate. the master of the
ship had it 100, as did also the agents al
Bombay. There was much astonish.
ment at so strange an order, bat the
master was bound to obey it. Accord.
inely the services of . number of ma.
tives were secured. and in . few DAYS
100 monkeys Of all colors aud previous
conditions were secured. There were
little black monkeys. with eyes like
beads. bigger monkeys with whiskers.
and baboons whose grave expression of
countenance presented ridiculous con-
trsst to their undignified antics. The
whole crowd Chartered, screamed, and
fought in the cage which had been pro-
vided for them in the ship. in spite OF
all efforts to keep them quiet.
In few days the homeward voyage
was commenced, and with it the trou-
bic of the crew. As soon a. the motion
of the ship was felt. the monkeys re-
doubled their noise. making q regular
demonium of the ship. Relays Of them
shook the bars of the cage without a
moments cessation for twenty three
hours out of each twenty y-four. until the
cage was literally shaken to pieces,
and the astonished sailors beheld q
cloud OF monkeys suddenly issue from
the bold. scrsmbling, fighting. and
tumbling over each other as if their
lives depended upon getting out in the
shortest possible time.
From that moment poor Jack had
not a moments peace. The monkeys,
with mischicvousness unparalleled.
would steal everything they could lay
their hands on. If clothes were hung
up to dry, they would carry them up
tO the very highest point attalnable,
and pick then, to pieces. 1t was necessa-
ry to set guards over anything that was
washed or dried. When the cabin-boy
swept the deck he had to lock up the
broom, for il he hid it ever so securely
his back would scarcely be turned be-
fore an old ape. half as big as man.
would have it, and going through the
motion of sweeping the deck with an
air of indescribable gravity. AS soon
as the boy started to recover the broom
the fellow would drop it, and dart into
the rigging like flash.
The cook had to keep the galley
locked while preparing the meals, and.
when he finished them. and started on
u run for the cabin. he first had to come
out and drive away the monkeys. who,
knowing what was going on inside.
clustered around the door, and perched
on the roof, ready to snatch, as soon o.
the cook appeared, whatever he carried.
While the men were eating their
meals. they were obliged ts lock them
selves into the cabin. so persistent were
the monkeys in their roguerics, while
right over their heads VAS . row OF
grinning heads aud chorus of yells,
screams. and snarls, and scampering
and shutting as the monkeys ran back.
ward and forward between the cabin
door and sky-light. trying to find some
mode of entrance. So great was the
annoyance that it was with the greatest
difficulty that the officers could prevent
the men shooting their tormentors. and
when the ship touched at Alden. half of
the crew deserted, preferring to take
their chances at this inhospitable place
than to endure the prosecutions of the
monkeys.
Finally the ship reached home. She
had been signallcd at Lands End. AMI
the owner was at the dock when she
arrived. Ship-o owners generally pride
themselves on the trim appearance of
their ships. and our friend was weak in
this respect. if in no others. What.
then. was his astonisl,ment to see his
ships rigging was crowded with knots
or punches, with here and there fes-
toon where the monkeys bad suspended
themselves from . spar in . string.
holding each other by the tail ! Every
body about the docks viewed with
wonder the approaching spectacle. The
ship moved closely to her birth. and
presently her yard arms nesred those
Of several other vessels lying at the
dock. In an instant the monkeys
leaped from one to the other. and began
to tour among she forests Of masts that
fringcd the harbor OF Liverpool. All
the boys and idlers around the dock
were engaged, and a grand hunt ensued
up and down the rigging from ship to
ship, all over the harbor. They were
finally captured.
The owner Was furious. but WAS. after
. while mollitied by an explanation over
= bottle of wine. ana the difficulty
satisfactory adjusted. The monkeys
we're gradually sold Oh. realizing .
profit Of about ten pounds (ffty dollars)
above ell costs. But the master OF the
ship declared that be never wanted to
sail on another voyage with a cargo OF
live monkeys