The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-08-07
A SHOWER or MONKEYS.
An English TIaTsIsr Greatly Surprised
Ina Forest.
round Him while walking.
saved by q seOuG.

Duty has taken me to Dharmsala. q
hill station considerably west Of Simla,
writes q correspondent Of Chdmbers'
Journal. On the return journey turned
of the main road at Kangra. The object
Of the excursion was TO see q neighbor-
ing shrine, much venerated by the Hin
docs and called JWalamcokhee. The
native pilgrims, who come in thousands,
lodge in the open air under the tees and
cook their own food; the rich bring tents
for their accommodation. But there was
no place for Europeans to lodge in except
the usual district officers bungalow"
This is always q small house with two or
three rooms, built and furnished by the
government and put in change Of man
servant, who both looks after it and looks
to the wants Of those who occupy II. In
1t the officers whom duty takes to such
out Of the European worlds places, lodge
and transact business during the few
days Of their periodical visits. To this
bungalow therefore we went.
On telling the care-taker who we were
he opened the house, and while went in
and INDUCED in very needful and re-
freshing wash he attepded to hly horse.
These preliminaries being over, we sent
him into the town for the double purpose
Of procuring us some food and Of inquir-
ing from the priests at what hour we
might pay the temple visit. The main
road passes through q dense wood not
100 yards from this house, which was
more than half a mile away from the
nearest part Of the town, From the road
q narrow avenue had been cut among the
trees to 4 small clearance around the
house; otherwise il was quite buried in
the wood.
When the care-taker left me, 1 found
the house stufy and damp. It had prob
ably not been opened or aired for days.
Not a sound was heard except the munch-
ing Of our horse in the neighboring stable
or the rare cry Of q bird in the trees.
There was nothing in the house to read,
and nothing to do. Moreover, l had had
a long ride and was rather stiff in the leg.
So, rising from the chair, strolled out Of
the house. After walking listlessly
around 1t, and pacing the small cleared
space in front, followed the avenue to
the main road, and then, returning,
passed into the wood, immersed in my
own thoughts. 1t was literally "twi-
light mood" for, though it was nearly
noon on bright August day, the trees
stood 50 close and their leaves grew 80
thick that scarce 4 patch Of sunshine
lighted up few favored spots. The giant
branches Of the grand old trees more
than touched they interlaced and formed
a leafy canopy overhead. with Just here
and there rent 10 admit q ray Of light
and to give glimpse Of the bright blue
sky above.
Sauntering under the trees, suddenly
became conscious Of noises in the branches
above me. l looked up and about, but,
though the branches stirred and the
leaves moved, l could see nothing. Il
was not, however, long left in doubt or
speculation. A monkey, q large male,
dropped from branch TO the ground at a
distance Of about thirty feet In front Of
me. As he reached the ground, he squat
ted on his heels, resting both his hands
on his knees and gazing a&edly and SOL
emnly at me. His gravity upset mine.
Then near him another monkey dropped
down; third and fourth followed. It
began to rain monkeys. In tens; in
scores; in hundreds; old, middle-aged
and young; large and small; males and
females-hany Of the latter carrying
babies, some on their backs, others in
their arms-kept dropping from the trees
around me. l was standing under q
mighty giant Of the forest, and against its
trunk, some five feet in diameter, I set
my back as the monkeys In their hun
dreds squatted down in an Irregular semi
circle around. They did not 20 behind
the tree, for its trunk was much wider
than my back, and they chose to sit only
where they could see me. Around they
left a clear space, but at the distance Of
about thirty feet they sat, huddled close
together in several rows, 600 and more
in number.
knew that one or two would hardly
dare to attack man, but when hundreds
oro,ydaI Narvafha- a,o,n1 oro st,.,,,o- A.. |
circumstances were far from encouraging.
Here was unarmed, nothing but light
riding 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 Europe
ans thew seemed TO regard with the
hatred due 10 intruders.
fully realized my danger, but con-
timed calm and collected and reasoned
the position out with myself. The only
chance Of safety was TO remain quietly |
against this friendly tree, silently observ-
ing the monkeys, careful to give no
offence or pFovocation, watchful 10 give
them no advantage over me TIL the return |
Of the caFe-taker or some other chance
came to my aid. Had / attempted to
strike them, or to frighten them, or to
break through them, or to fee from them,
I have not the slightest doubt that
should not now be writing this account.
Their enormous numbers would have em-t