Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-01
INDTd,s sAcRED NOM EYs.
They Are a Pest. .But they Must Not b
KilIed--AIonltey Heroism.

1 Killed--Monltey Heroisn.
An English gentleman who has liyed
many years in India tells some queer
stories about the sacred monkeys that
| are greatnuisanCe in some parts of that
country. Nooneisallowed to molestthem
They run about the streets, help them.
selves TO whatever they please at the
shops, rob orchards and gardens, and
play havoc generally. 10 thrash them
is regarded as a misdemeanor, and to
shoot monkey might cause a second
mutiny.
The gentleman had a garden where
grew delicious fruits. The sacred
monkeys easily scaled the walls and
helped themselves. They were not
content with simply eating, but amused
themselves with throwing half-munched
fruit at each other. To shoot these
pests was out Of the question, and to
hit them with stones was impossible, as
they easily lodged any missile that
might be thrown at them. An idea
struck the Englishman one day, and he
at once proceeded 10 carry it into effect
with great success. He got large
basket of the largest potatoes that were
to be found and had them boiled. When
they were scalding hot he had basket
and potatoes placed under one of the
trees. The monkeys were watching
these movements from the trees. Pres
emily every moRey seized a hot potato,
and then followed the most unearthly
screechrs and gatherings A monkey
Will never let go any article of food that
he once gets hold Of, even if he has to
die, and these monkeys, true TO their
nature, would not drop the hot potatoes.
They held them in one hand and then
in the other, and then they would take
a bite and seald their mouths, and roll
in the dust, writing with pain, but
never letting the potatoes once out of
they grasp. They ate up the potatoes
and then disappeared over the walls
and never returned.
The Englishman once witnessed a
very pathetic. us well as heroic, scene in
one Of the squares, in which the sacred
monkeys were the actors. He saw a
numbered monkeys seated and standing
IN large circle, and a female monkey
huTging and wailing over the dead body
Of her baby that had just been killed by
a cohras bite. The other females We're
trying to console her by carcsses, while
the males appeared TO be in earnest con-
sultation among themselves. In the
centre Of the circle was the large cobra
that had inflicted the fatal bite, coiled
and with head erect, watching the enc
mics by whom he was surrounded.
Suddenly young and athletic male
sprang into the arena. He care
fully approached the cobra, which pre-
pared itself TO strike. The monkey
made few passes, and Just as the snake
was about q dart its head he sprang to
ono side, and then over the cobra. This
was repeated SO often and with sucn as
founding rapidity that the cobra became
hewilderGdswhen the monkey seized the
snake by the neck and proceeded to
crush its head to a Jelly by rubbing it |
on the ground with all his might The |
snake tried to free its self by coiling
around the monkeys neck, but in vain;
its struggles became weaker and weaker
until life was extinct. When the snakes |
head had been reduced to shapeess
mass the young simian hero dropped the
cobra and executed series of hops and |
u to that moment the other monkeys
had maintained the mostanXiaus silence.
every movement Of the com
1atants with eager interest. The snakes
leath, however, was the signal for the
most joyous gatherings aid gambols.
They took hold Of the conqueror of the
make, patted him on the head, scratched
MS back, danced round him, and gave
very manifestation Of their great appre-
Of his yalorous achievement The
loor mother carried about her dead babe
or two days longer.