The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-09-29
MONKEYS at Home,

Some monkeys are pre-eminently q
sylvan race, and never abandon their
native forests. Each tribe or family
has its own particular district into
which individuals of other tribes or
species are never allowed to intrude,
the whole community uniting promptly
to repel any aggression of this nature,
either upon their territory or their in
dividual rights. They are highly gre
garious, never leave the recesses of the
forest, generally take up their quarters
in the vicinity of n running stream, and
seldom approach the habitations of
men. 1t is this spirit of union and mu-
tual defence which prompts the monk
eys to collect around travellers, and.
by their chattering. grimaces, and every
other means in their power. endeavor
10 prevent them from intruding into
the little territory which they regard rs
their especial property"
Sometimes, indeed, regular pitched
battles take place between two tribes.
such rs those between the Geladas and
theHamadryads, described bySchimper,
the well-known traveller. when sticks
and stones are freely used. Most monk
ey tribes. however. appear quite salts
fed if permitted to remain in peaceable
possession of their own localities, there
to carry on their customary occupa-
tions. Some idea of their mode of life
may be cleaned from such scenes as
those portrayed by Margrave in his ac-
count of a species of button termed
0ud'1neS.
'.Every day, both morning and even
ing" says the traveller, '.they assem-
BILE in the woods to receive instruction.
When all come together, one among
the number takes the highest place on
q tree. and makes a signal with his
hand to the rest to sit round, in order
to hearken. As soon as he sees them
placed, he begins his discourse with so
loud voice. and yet in a manner SO
precipitate, that to hear him at dis
tance, one would think that the whole
company were crying out at the same
time /; however, during that time, one
only is speaking. and all the others OBJ
serve the most profound silence. When
this is done he makes a sign with his
hand for the rest to reply and at that
instant they raise their voices together.
until, by another signal of the hand.
they are enjoined silence. This they
as readily obey till at last the whole
assembly breaks up"
What the nature of this discourse is,
not knowing the speakers language, we
have no means of ascertaining Wheth-
er he exponnds the laws of the commu-
nifty, or breaches morality to his hearers,
cannot even be guessed at but it may
be noted that in many manners and
customs some tribes of monkeys are far
better behaved, according to European
ideas, than many tribes of men. Among
the higher types of monkeys, domestic
morality appears to be well preserved.
Several kinds" says Darwin. ''are
strictly homogeneous, and associate all
the year round with their wives;' and
this same authority quotes the anecdote
of an intelligent Kandyan chief, of
course a polygamist, who ''was per-
fectly scandalizcd at the utter barbara
anism of living only with one wife, and
never parting until separated by death.
1t was" he cynically observed, '.just
like the Wanderoo monkeys"
Although each family lives separate,
it appears to be on social terms with
the other families of the tribe; and
when they remove their habitations,
all travel together in large bands. Let
us suppose that the little orphan previ,
ously mentioned, now grown up and
become one of the leaders of the tribe,
has taken unto himself wife from the
most attractive females of his species.
Let us suppose that they are happy
couple, living in the social freedom of
their native wood and knowing nothing
of the doings of the outer world, when
suddenly party of travellers appear
upon the scene and ruthlessly despatch
the young bride. Tho sequel, to quote
Forbes in his s.Oriental Memoirs was
as follows:
''On shooting party one of my
friends killed female monkey and
carried it to his tent, which was soon
surrounded by forty or fifty of the
tribe, who made great noise, and in
menaci' posture advanced toward it
On his presenting his fowling- piece
they retreated: but one stood his
ground, chattering and menacing in a
furious manner. He at length came
close TO the tent door, and finding that
his threatenings were of no avail, be-
gan q lamentable moaning, and, by
very expression of grief and supplica-
tion. seemed 10 beg the body of the de-
ceased. On this it was given to him.
He took it up in his arms, eagerly
pressed it to his bosom, and carried it
off in a sort of triumph to his expecting
companions. The artless behavior of
this poor animal wrought so powerfully
on the sportsmen. that they resolved
never more to level a gun at one of the
monkey tribe" %
According to their custom of carrying
away their dead and wounded. it may
be presumed that our hero bore off his
murdered bride aud buried her. in
accordance with the habits of his tribe.
beneath cairn of leaves. These Great
ures. as we know, feel the most intense
and overpowering sorrow for their de-
ceased, and something closely ap-
preaching to human intelligence min
giles with their sense of the ravages of
death.