The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-22
jaya'y iEYlius Apes.


Tava," said an old eastern traveller
20 the New York Sun, "for shooting
hem is looked upon as the worse
Kind IF vandalism, and they do very
title damage, rarely injdring the
.rops on the farms, and living chiefly
OH wild fruits. There is, however q
species OF large ape there that Is not
wholly q vegetarian. He is about
the size OF a small climpanzee, and,
when full grown, Ills face 10 enclrcled
With q brshy white beard ann whisk.
.rs, giving It a very whimsical ex-
preston, ludicrously like that of a
little old man, lie Ia not ut all wild,
and he seems to have acme idea of
practical joking, which leads him oc-
casionally to descend to the lower
boughs Of high tree in the evening,
and hold out hin paw in apparent
triendltness to any one who happens
to he near. 4 person who Is not ia
miliar with the queer brutes' tricks is
apt to suppose that the monkey de-
sires to shake his hand, and goes un-
der the tree for the purpose Of meet.
ing the amicable advance half way,
Ha is fultunaFe It he escapes " !slap
ON the face. At MI events, the paw
is withdrawn before the human flngers
touch II, and the ape, sitting a
few feet above the range ola mans
spring, scratches his ribs and jibbers
insultingly. The long tail is some
times lowered instead oftha hand,
and then Ihs chances offhe creature
dealing y q malicious stroke greatly
increased, for the eaalal appenaaga
Ia sxttemhiF little and flexible, and ia
OF much service toits owner as q fifth
limb.
ut is q noticeable thing about
these tails that they are nearly al
ways badly SCARED ut tho extremity,
and frequently bear wounds quite
fresh and still bleeding. Tho mon.
keys use their tails as fishing lines,
and with them catch the crabs that
intest the GGasts ST the island; These
crabs arg ABOUT the slzs Of the hard.
shell cpustacca of the Same species
that are offered for sale at our own
mark.fa, and the apes are their only
enemies, for nobody else on the is
land cares to eat them. They live
in holes several yards above high.
water mark, and when they emerge
to search orfood theylook cnutious-
" arphlti to gee whethei: at apa 10
near. lfthey see one, or suspect his
presence, they go back, and they
are 30 quick in their movements,
that tha monkey mas nj
chance Of eatchiaa them. Bat
tile animal has q perfect passion
for crab meat, and his appetite must
be gratitted ut any porsnnal sacrifice.
"Going TO a hole into which lie has
seen q crab retreat, he inserts his
tail as far us it will extend, which Ia
generally to the end Of the cavity.
Any person concealed in the vicinity
and Watching him at auch q moment
sees the funniest spectacle imaginable.
The fisher sets perfectly still, with
his mouth wide open. an expression
Of anxious expectancy GU his face,
and anticipatory tears gathering in
his syss He a1, FsEe tho as Long f. t watt h
swapping turtle in its disposition.
lna few minutes the monkeys mouth
closes with a snap, the teeth are
clepihaa tightly, the eyes shut, and
the water that has fisan' vi them
trickles down the hairy cheeks: The
contortions ofthe countenance speak
of torture heroically endured; for the
animal has bite and he IL whiting
for the prey to take a fast hold.
Then the tail, with the doomed crab
clinging to it's tip, is jerked swiftly
from the hole, whirled around for q
couple Of seconds, to give it impetus,
and brought down on the ground
with crash that breaks the crabs
shell as though it were q badly
guarded head ut Donnybrook fair.
The apps meal is served. He
picks out the meat win his c|RWs.
only interpupting his enjoyment FGt
the repast now and then to moan In
decentralization and moisten his
wounded tail with his tongue"