Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-09-10
Apes FISHING FoR CRABS.
A Java Species That sacrifices ItA Comfort
60 IT'S raIate--An Able Bodied Graf.


APES FISHING FOR CRABS.
A Java Species THAT Sacrifices Ita Comfort
60 It's raiate--An Able Bodied Crab.
"They have on the coast OF Java a
peculiar long-tailed ape, and sand
crab that grows to an extraordinary
size and possesses great strength in It's
claws" said a gentleman who lived in
Java years ago. "rhe apes are par
ticularly fond of tho crabs, which are
very shy and wonderfully quick in their
movements They live in deeo holes
in the sand, but spend much Of their
time on the outside Of their holes,
where they run and hop about They
range in size from that of silver dol
lar to that Of our edible crabs Their
claws are not large, but have grip
that is vise-like. The apes make daily
raids on the haunts of the crabs,
and occasionally succeed, by creeping
stealthily to within few feet of a
group OF them, in springing upon them
and capturing one before they have
scampered TO their holes. Usually,
nOMNNtIs Ntt NIhUN UlN 81 NAiN AAAAN
while the ape is still in the air during
his spring toward them, they have sep
arated and disappeared into the
ground. The ape, finding himself too
slow TO make a capture, then resorts TO
a bit Of strategy to secure n dinner. His
mode of final capture inilicts upon him
pang of physical suffering which Is
frequently moro than he can bear, but
his love for the crab as morsel of food
is so strong that he never hesitatcs to
accept the personal discomfort which
its capture involves, and usually bears
il with n stoicism which might inspire
admiration If it were not for its comi-
cal side.
"When the ape finds that he is foilcd
IN his effort to capture a crab by spriag-
ing at a group, he backs himself up TO
a hole into which one has d sappeared.
Sitting down. he thrusts his long tail
into the hole. The crab, 10 punish
such unwonted intrusion. seizes the end
of the tail in its strong claws the mo-
ment il approaches near enough. ANY
one who may have been so fortunate
as to hide himself i'm the bushes unob-
served by the ape making the raid, will
nave hard time to restrain his laughter
when the critical moment Of contact
between the crabs claw and the apes
tail is reached. There is a-look of
comical suspense on the apes face as
he thrusts his tail down into the hole.
When the crab closes on the tail the cx-
preston of suspense departs. The ape
gives On Involuntary start. and then set
Ties back on his launches. while he
closes his teeth together with a deter
mined air, and eventually, spring ng
forward, out comes the tail from the
hole, with the crab dangling to it. la
stantly the ape swishes his ;ail forward
and brings the crab to the ground with
a force that stuns il and causes il to
drop its grip. With stone the ape
smashes the shell of the crab, and is
soon picking out the meat and proceed
ing with his meal
zone day was watching a
large ape fishing in this way for
crabs. The apes are as shy as
the creatures they hunt so persistently.
and the least sound from the brush will
send them scampering away. The ape
was watching made a dismal failure
OF his attempt 10 spring on a crab, and
at once proce ded to fish one out Of a
hole. He selected a nole into which /
had seen u very large crab disappear,
and | anticipated fun. The apes tail
had gone its full length into the hole
before his face indicated that the crab
had made its connection. Suddenly nc
gave start and yell. lie bent his
body nearly double, AMI slapped his
HANDS on his knees and wagyed his
head, with his teeth closed tight and
his lips drawn down. while on his face
was a look of agony and despair doub-
ly intensified. lie made several a.
tempts to withdraw his tail, but fell
back each time and howled as the crab
drew it taut Tears actually ran down
the ludicrous face of the suffering ape.
and when he clapped both hands to his
forehead and swayed his body to
and fro like little old man tortured
by the toothache, bowling dismally the
while, | could no longer restrain my
self, and yelled with laughter. Thi,
frightened the ape, and he gave a quick
spring forward. Out came the crab
and away went the ape. The crab
hung TO the tail, and as far a. could
see maintained its hold, in spite Of the
way it was lashcd and trailed rs the ape
flew over the ground, yelling rt every
jump. lie disappeared in the thick
brush, but how he diyestcl himself OF
the crab | never knew. ~ T. Sun.