Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-06-27

indian ianooman of which race the
large and strong males stand when
erect, fully four feet in height. There
were many such, among others of
smaller size, in the crowd around me
Il had not taken three minutes to
form that solid scmicircle of monkeys.
They had come down as thick as
shower Of hailsones, but so softly and
gently had they descended to the grass
and leaf-covered ground that scarcely
any noise had been made. For a short
time they sat motionless and silent,
staring hard at me, and baby mon
key, having made noise, was instant
" smncked by lis mother in a most
human fashion They looked at me,
and then they began to chatter-frst
one, then few together, then many
at once, finally all in chorus. They
talked, chattered, jabbered, discussed,
argued, shouted, and yelled, gesticula-
ting meanwhile, making faces and
ginning. Suddenly there was a dead
silence for a short interval, during
which they gravely stared at me harder
than ever. Every now and again one
or another or several at once would
grip, snarI, and growl at me, showing
their large canine teeth. Again the
chattering discourses would be re-
newed.
The laughter with which had greet
ed the first Of my visitors died a very
sudden death, for my curiosity to
watch tn ir behavior did not prevent
my realizing the fact that | was not in
az1ery safe position Even one or two
vTT-rr-- -Z-- . -s --ai. 4i...li O.
deal with, if they chose to attack
man, for, though small, they are ex-
tremely muscular and agile, and it
would be harder to prevent them from
biting and tearing than it would mad
dog. True, knew that one or two
would hardly dare to attack II an,
but when hundreds crowded together
around one stranger the circumstances
were far from encouraging. Here ]
was, unarmed, nothing but light rid
ing whip in my hand, surrounded by
hundreds of monkeys, to which my
white face and European dress were
evidently objects of as much aversion
as curiosity. Natives they did not
mind, but Europeans they seemed to
regard with the hatred due to in
truders.
fully realized my danger, but con-
tinued calm and collected, and rea-
soncd the position out with myself.
aa" 81 only chance as saaal%. Ss3s 4ssss, 4s
main quietly against this friendly tree,
silently observing the monkeys, care
ful to give no oflense or provocation,
watchful to give them no advantage
over me till the return of the caretaker
or some other chance came to my aid.
Had | attempted to strike them or to
Tighten them, or to break through
them or to flee from them. | have not
the slightest doubt that | should not
now be writing this account. Their
enormous numbers would have en-
boldened them to any act. | should
have been quite helpless in their grasp
would, indeed, have beoq pounced
upon by scores Of them, overpowered,
bitten and torn to pieces. So, making
virtue of necessity, ] kept up a bold
front. watched, waited, and prayed.
In one of the intervals of silence,
the great monkey that had first ar
rived, and that seemed to be one of
the leaders, suddenly kopped nearer
to me, two feet or so. His action was
Immediately initiated by all the mon
keys forming the front row of the
semicircle, while these behind closed
up as before; and the semicircle con-
tracted around me by two feet in the
radius. More chattering ana gesticu-
lating followed, more growing and
giinaing, win. Intervals of silence.
They had a great deal to say, and they
all said it, and it wqs all about me,
too, for they frequently pointed at me
with their hands, and snarled and
gnashed their teeth at me. Again they
contracted the semieircle as before
Aud so they kept gradually coming
nearer and nearer, and growing moro
and more excited. Still | remained
quiet and silent, and still in the dis
tance the monkey youths played tho
mad gambols of their living pendu
lum, needless of what engaged the
attention of their seniors. All elst
was silent-no sign of man.
The semicircle had gradually con
trac.el to within fourteen or ffteel
feet Of where | stood; the monkey
indeed were so near that in two o.
three leaps they could easily hav,
jumped upon me. felt decidedly un
easy; wondered how they would at
| tack me and Mhen2 From the right