Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-03
CRAB CATCHING MONKEYS.
How the Crafty Ape of Java Goes q Fish
ing with His Tail.

How the Crafty Ape of Java Goes rish-
ing with His Tail.
"Monkeys abound in the island OF
Java" said an old eastern traveller,
''for shooting them is looked upon as
the worst kind of vandalism, and
they do very little damage, rarely in
turing the crops on the farms and llv-
ing chiefly on wild fruits. There is,
however, a species of large ape there
that is not wholly vegetarian. He
is about the size of small chimpan-
zee, and when fully grown his dark
face is encircled with bushy white
beard and whiskers, giving it q very
whimsical expression, ludicrously ike
that of little old man. He is not at
all wild, and heseems to have some idea
of practical Joking, which leads him
occasionally to descend to the lower
boughs of high tree in the evening
and hold out his paw in apparent
friendliness to any one who happens
to be near
"a person who is not familiar with
the queer brutes tricks is apt to sup
pose that the monkey desires to shake
his hand, and goes under the tree for
the purpose of meeting the amicable
tuNduCe Idli way Lie - ioftutatC a
he escapes a slap in the face. At all
events the paw is withdrawn before
the human fingers touch it, and the
ape, sitting few feet above the range
of a mans spring, scratches his ribs
and gibbers insultingly. The long
tail is sometimes lowered instead Of
the hand, and then the chances of the
creature dealing a malicious stroke are
greatly increased, for the caudal ap-
pendage is extremely 1.-the and flex-
ible, and is of as much service to its
owner as fifth limb.
1T is noticeable thing about these
tails that they are nearly always badly
Scared at the extremity, and frequent
ly bear wounds quite fresh and still
bleeding. The monkeys use their
tails as fishing lines, and with them
| catch the crabs that infest the coast of
the island. These crabs are about the
| size of the hardshell crustacea of tho
/ same species that are offered for sale
| In our own markets, and the apes are
their only enemies, for nobody else on
the island cares to eat them. They
live in holes several yards above high
water mark, and when they emerge to
search for food they look cautiously
around to see whether an ape is near.
| Is they see one or suspect his presence
they go back, and they are so quick in
| their movements, that the monkey
has no chance of catching them. But
| the animal has perfect passion for
| crab meat, and his appetite must be
| gratltied at any personal sacrifice
| Going 10 a hole into which he
has seen crab retreat, he inserts his
tail as far as it will extend, which is
| generally to the end of the cavity.
Any person concealed in the vicinity
and watching him at such moment
sees the funniest spectacle imagin-
able. The fisher sits perfectly still
with his mouth wide open. an ex-
preston of anxious expectancy on his
face, and anticipatory tears in his
eyes. He never has long to wait, for
Jaya's crab is very much like the
swapping turtle in its disposition. In
q few minutes the monkeys mouth
closes with a snap, the teeth are
cllnched tightly, the eyes shut and
the water that has risen to them trick
les down the hairy cheeks.
The contortions of the countenance
speak of torture heroically endured;
for the animal has a bite, and he is
waiting for the prey to take fast hold.
Then the tail, with the doomed crab
clinging to its tip, is jerked swiftly
from the hole, whirled around for
couple of seconds to give it impetus,
and brought down on the ground with
q crash that breaks the crabs shell as
though it were badly guarded head
at Donnybrook fair The apes meal
is served. He picks out the meat with
his claws, only interrupting his enjoy
ment of the repast now and then to
moan in self commiseration and
moisten his wounded tail with his
tongue. Toledo Blade.