New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-10-12
iMonkavs 4 Hnrna.

Monkeys It Home.
Sorle monkeys are prominently q
sylvan race, andsneyer 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 irepel my aggression If this nature,
either upon their territory or their i'm
diyidual rights. They arc highly gre
garious. never leave the rccesses of the
forest, generally tako up their quarters
in. the vicinity of running stream. and
seldom approacl, tho habitations; Of
men. II is this spirit Of union and mn
tual defence wi,ic!, prompts the monk
eys to collect around. travellers, and.
by their chattcring, grimaccs, and every
other means in their power. en.ieavor
10 prevent them from intruding into
the little territory which, they regard as
their especial property = iz
Sometimes, indeed, regular pitched
battles take place between two tribes,
such as those between the Geladas and
thcH amadryads, described bYS chimper,
the wcll-known traveller. when sticks
and stones are freely used. Most monk
ey tribes, however, appear quite salts
fed If permitted to remain in peaceablo
possession of their own localities, there
to- carry on their customary occupa-
tons. Some idea Of their mode Of life
may be CLEANED from such scenes q
those portrayed by Margrave in his 40
count of species Of button termed
0atdTines.
Every day. both morning and even
ing, . says the traveller. they assem-
BILE in the woods to receive instruction.
When all como together, one among
tho number takes the highest place on
q tree. and makes q 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 20
loud q voice, and yet in . manner 90
precipitate. that to hear him at . dis
lance, one would think that the whole
company were crying out at the same
time !; however, during that time, one
only is speaking, and oil the others OBJ
serve the most profound silence. When
this is done he makes 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 ~ last the whole
assembly breaks up"
What the nature Of this discourse Is,
not knowing the speaker language, we
have no means Of ascertaining. Wheth-
or he expounds the laws Of the commu-
nifty, or breaches morality to his hearers,
cannot even be, guessed ct but it may
be noted that in many manners and
customs some tribes of monkeys are far
better behaved. according 70 European
ideas, than many tribes Of men. Among
the higher types Of monkeys, domestic
morality appears to be web 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 polygamist, who ''was per-
fectly scandalized 1t the utter barbari-
anism of living only with one wife, and
never parting until separated BY death.
It was" he cynically observed, ..just
like the Wandered 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 q wife from the
most attractive females Of his species.
Let us suppose that they are q 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. The sequel. to quote
Forbes in his Oriental Memoirs, :" was
as follows
'On 9 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
menacing posture advanced Toward it
On his presenting his foWling-p piece
they retreated: but one stood his
ground, chattering and menacing In .
furious manner. He at length came
close to the tent door, and finding that
his threatenings were Of no avail. be-
gan lamentable moaning. and. by
very expression Of grief and supplica-
ton, seemed to 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 e
off in q 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 . 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 of his
murdered bride and buried her. in
accordance with the habits Of his tribe,
beneath cairn Of leaves. These crest.
ures, as We know, feel the most intense
and overpowering sorrow for their de-
ceased, and something closely ap-
preaching to human intelligence min