The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-12-18

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. flying about, and afier VIC had been at
anchor about an hour I took my man and
went ashore. The island was n perfect
tanglc. The trees grew almost as thick
us they could stand, and the ground was
covered with creepers and rank vcgeta.
tion. We were quarter of mile from
the beach before the ground cleared, and
then We failed to get sight of an ape. As
! it was very hot afternoon, the chances
were that they were asleep in the thick
of the forest. We brought along with
| us some pieces of cloth of various colors,
and these We now hung on the limbs
and bushes and scattered along on the
ground to "bait" the apes to the land
ing.
We had made our way quietly as pos
sible, as l fully believed in what the
! trader had told me. When we reached
the landing I got my monkey traps from
the schooner. These are steel traps with
padded jaws. We set six of them oppo-
site the craft, and the only bait we used
was red rag tied to the catch. Going
on board we had dinner, and then /
brought out heavy rifle aud fired three
shots into the woods. That was to wake
up the apes, and it wasn't ten minutes
before we heard from them. Shrieks
and cries and calls resounded through
the forest, and then the apes fairly
swarmed down to the shore. The coiored
cloths angered and excited them to the
highest pitch, and their coming was like
that of an euraged mob OF human beings.
The advance guard had scarcely appeared
before they rushed upon the traps in
great fury, and to their4own great sor-
row. Every trap received victim, and
every victim screamed and shrieked and
Jumped about in the most exciting man.
ner. e,
The number of apes duh uhbfounded me.
honestly believe there were 5000 of
them, great and small, and the noise they
made was deafening. Their first move
was to help the victims in the traps.
They attempted to pull them out by
main force, and when this failed they
got stones and clubs and tried to break
the traps. They had neither the strength
nor the ingenuity, aud when they real
lied this they turned to secure revenge
on us. We had been expecting the
move and ware ready for it, or thought
we were. We had four guns on the rail,
had covered the cabin skylight with
boards, and the decks were clear for
action. The tide was yet running in,
aud although we could almost look into
the flashing eyes of the apes, we knew
they dreaded water and would hesitate to
swim out to us.
don't know whose fault it was that
the yawl's painter, which was made fast
to the starboard rail amidships, was not
securely fastened. No one had given it
any thought until we suddenly saw the
yawl drive to the mango bushes stern
first. There was no surf in that little
bay, and the tide would have held her
there if the apes had taken no action.
The boat was no sooner within leaping
distance than fifty of the animals sprang
into it, and as it reached the bushes it
was held there. The screams and yells
of the apes for the next five minutes pre-
vented speech. Then, at a given signal,
all but one leaped out of the boat. At
a second signal all those in sight on shore
disappeared, leaving only the victims Of
the traps. These had ceased their COM
plants and become quiet, aud now a
great stiffness fell upon the island. l
asked the Captain what new move he
thought the beasts intended to make, and
he replied:
81 think we shall have great trouble
with them. If there was breeze enough
to stem this tide I should be in favor of
getting out as soon as possible. They
will board us in the yawl as soon as the
tide turns"
pointed to the fact that there was
only one ape in the boat, and that could
put bullet through his head where he
sat. If one of the men would slip over
the rail he could swim to the boat and
secure it. This was looked upon as a
good idea. One Of the Borneo men go.
quietly into the water and swan for the
boat, and when he was close upon it
fired and killed the ape ia charge. His
dying yell was answered from thousand
throats, and in ten seconds the boat was
filled with apes. The sailor had to re-
turn empty handed. 1t was no use to
fire upon the beasts, as their numbers
were so great, aud we therefore renewed
our preparations for defence. The crew
proper told us in so many words that they
would not lift hand except to defend
themselves, as they considered it crime
to kill an ape. If the schooner wa;
boarded, then they would be justified IL
fighting.
After a few minutes all the apes but
one again left the boat. TIE body o1
the one had killed was carried ashore
The tide would not turn until 5 o'clock,
and we had nothing to do but wait and
watch. | made shell out of tin Can
filled with powder and bullets, and thu
fuse to this was to be lighted by Thomas
when he could heavc it into the boat
We had three loaded guns and arevolvel
apiece, and l believe the two Of us alone
could prevent boarding. The schooner
; swung bows to the shore as soon as the
tide turned, and was now further awaJ
by her own length. We did not hear
, sound from the beasts after they retired
There were scores of them watching u
from the bushes, no doubt, but they di'
not show themselves. When the tld
began to draw the yawi oil shore the ap
, left in charge took turn with his tai
, around bush and thus held it.
Al