The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-03-26
The Monkey Question in India.


have lately taken forcible possession
Of the village of Augurpara, on the
high road to the military station of
Barrackpore, and, having elected by
violence and intimidation all the more
human inhabitants, have billeted
themselves on the orchards and gar
dens of the hamlet whence they di-
rec3 various offensive strategic move
ments, night attacks, and predatory
raids upon the neighborhood. In
many points these simian marauders
resemble their prototypes in Bull
garia, for we are told "they are great
brutes, and as savage as wild beasts.
They attack children and even full
grown women without fear, selecting
always the female and weaker sex as
the special objects of their violence. !"
Fortunately, however, Calcutta is
close by, and the local volunteers
will, it is hoped, suffice to suppress
the outbreak and drive the insurgent
apes back to their jungles, thus obvl-
ating the necessity Of calling out the
regular troops and saddling India
with additional military expenditure.
Meanwhile the fact remains that
the residents Of Augurpara have de-
serted their homes en- nadSse, and that
the apes are in riotous possession Of
the plantain trees and the guava or
chards, and revelling on the mangoes
and other fruits, now all ripe.
Whether good may not come out OF
this evil, and the vagrant baboon,
having made experience of the adj
vantage of civilization, may not
eventually come to prefer a settled
life, and take to husbandry. is an
interesting speculation we cannot
here discuss.
Troublesome the Indian monkeys
have been from the first, and local
administration is constantly con-
fronted with problems of puzzling
nature, in consequence of the OBJ
jectionable tendency to intrude which
characterizes them, and the senti-
mental generation in which they are
held by the people. The monkey,
in the first place, has no selt-respect
he thrusts himself into all companies,
performing all domestic duties under
the public eye, while scorning to rec
9gnize any Of Apiceties Of the
minor ethics. TF Naverage Christ
ian therefore. considers him a mi
sance, and the ape never succeeds in
effecting a lodgment on the premises
of Europeans in India The Hindu,
however, even though he may de-
plore the monkeys shortcomings, is
shackled by his religious scruples in
his conflict with them, and, in spite
Of his rified grain stores, dare not
openly affront the creatures.
In many. cities of India the mon
keys inhabit recognized quarters, and
are allowed every morning to descend
from temple top and tree into the
market place, and there to eat their
fill of whatever may be exposed for
sale. The owner sits by, pretending
to grant the meal without grudging,
but when no one else is looking he
often takes the opportunity of giving
the intruder a hearty cuff to send it
on to the next stall for the rest of its
breakfast. This semi-sacred charac-
ter contemplates the problem before
the magistrate, for if one street COM
plains to him that the monkeys have
mischievously picked half the tiles off
the houses, and begs to have them
deported, the next street petitions
that their religious prejudices may
not be outraged by any interference
with the simians' liberty. Some
times, however, whole town agrees
that the monkey nuisance has become
intolerable, and, gods OF not, votes
for wholesale deportation. But the
monkeys are as astute as their neigh
bors, and though submitting to be
coaxed across the river, or carted off
to neighboring jungle, utilize both
ferry and high road traffic for a
speedy and comfortable return. Be-
tween Benares and Ramnagar con-
slant transportation of monkeys was
at one time carried on; but since as
many came back by boat of their
own accord-the ferryman not daring
to refuse their wishes-the local
officials abandoned the enterprise, and
to this day the animals share both
city and palace with the human in
habitants.
In the Hill districts whole fields OF
corn are ravaged in a morning by
the long-tailed troops, but the super
stitious villager will not do more
than shout at them his respectful re-