Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-23
4 LIVING BRIDGE.
Peculiar Antics in South American MOnkeys-CrOssinga a River That Lay in Their Path.

fecui1af Ahthcs 1h south Amefteap Monkeys-CrOssins a River That Lay in Their Path.
 In an article on ''Living Bridges" in the Youths Companion, c. F. Holden tells how onca he was travelling down toward the mouth of the Amazon and making short and frequent trips up the various little streams that emptied into it. "One night" says he, ''when near the village of Obidos, we found we were obliged to anchor in mid stream, it being almost impossible to retrace our steps without daylight. I had fallen asleep in my chair upon deck. We had pushed up the little stream until our boat was almost high and dry in the rich southern vegetation, and the trees in some places nearly touched. The woods were filled with tropical birds, and their notes, together with the strange sounds of insects and reptiles, filled the air and made sleep almost impossible; but before morning they evidently exhausted their vo- cabularies and I fell asleep in my chair upon the deck.
 'sHow long lay there I have no recollec- tion, but was awakened by violent blow on my face; and looking up suddenly 1 saw what appeared like gigantic rope suspended from the trees and moving away into the gloom. In moment back it came, swing ing like great pendulum, this time passing astern of the vessel; as it swung by I heard a chatterine noise and immediately saw that it was rope of living monkeys. How many I have no conception, but they were suspend ed from tall palm near us that leaned over the creek, and were endeavoring to form a bridge by which they could cross drysI9d, and their attempts certainly showed them to be possessed of remarkable intelligence.
 ''As morning was approaching l could soon observe their every motion. Their plan was to have three or four of the strong est and stoutest monkeys at the end, just as you have these firm granite pillars here.
 These fellows grasped the branches of the palm with their feet, tails and hands, then two others grasped them in the same way and lowered themselves down, receiving in similar manner several more, and they in turn others, until finally rope or swinging column of monkeys hung from the branch.
 "'Others now attached themselves here and there until they were perhaps three or even four deep, and the column thirty feet long. It then hung against the trunk of the tree, but as it became complete the last monkey, that was held by the others and had his arms free, began to push against the tree, and so
 moved the living rope little. Another push was followed by others, until the col finally began to swing with long sweep, and it was during one of these move ments That I had evidently been struck.
 But the monkeys apparently knew what they were doing, and seemed to rely entirely upon the end one, who did all the pushing; and every time they gained little, the pendu- lum swinging farther and farther over the water, until finally it went so near branch on the other side that the leader grasped it and the bridge was completed.
 That this was eminently satisfactory was evident from the chattering that came all along the line, but there no undue haste, and as soon as the end monkey had obtained good hold two others from the other side crossed over quickly and placed themselves by him to help secure the hold.
 ''Then the word was evidently given that the bridge was open, for over rushed a chat tering, screaming troop; some on all fours, others standing upright, waving their long tails, while the mothers carried the little all ip .h91rry now to eet over and re-
 rFA very ancient-1ooking monkey was the last to cross, and he picked his way over Tn such a deliberate manner that l laughed aloud, Whereupon ensued curious scene. The old fellow nearly lost his balance, for the monkeys at the end released their hold and the entire bridge swung over. The moment it cleared the water each monkey seemed to release his grasp, dropping here and there and scanlpering off among the tree-tops with loud chatterings and cries of rage and fear, What they would have done if had alarmed them before I hardly know, but someSawould probably have gone overheard.
 ssI saw the same bridge making many times in the interior, and it was often done to enable the monkeys to cross from one tall tree to another, where to descend 10 the ground would have opened them to attack from various enemies"