The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-05-30
Sacred Monkeys of India.

An English gentleman who has lived
many years in India tells some queer stories
about the sacred monkeys that are great
nuisance in some parts of that country.
No one is allowed to molest them. They
run about the streets, help themselves to
whatever they please at the shops, rob
orchards and gardens and play havoc gen
orally. To thrash them is regarded as a
misdemeanor, and to shoot a monkey might
cause a second mutiny.
The gentleman had 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 pro-
ceeded to carry it into effect, with great
success
He got a large basket of the largest pO-
tatoes 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 mokeys were watching
these movements from the trees. Presently
every monkey seized hot potato, and then
followed the most unearthly screeches 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 bite
and scald their mouths, and roll in the
dust, writhing with pain, hut never letting
the potatoes once ont Of their grasp. They
ate up the potatoes, and then disappeared
over the walls and never returned.
The Englishman once witnessed pa
| thetic as well as heroic scene in one OF the
city squares, in which the sacred monkeys
were the actors. He saw number Of
monkeys seated and standing in large
circle, and female monkey hugging and
wailing over the dead body of her baby
that had just been killed by a cobra's bite
The other females were trying to console
her by caresses, while the males appeared
to be in earnest consultation among them
selves. In the centre of the circle was the
large cobra that had inflicted the fatal bite
coiled and with head erect, watching thu
enemies by whom he was surrounded.
Suddenly young and athletic mali
monkey sprang into the arena. He care
fully approached the cobra, which prepared
itself to strike. The monkey made feV
passes, and Just as the snake was about t.
dart its head he sprang to one side, ant
then over the cobra This was repeated St
often and with such astounding rapidit,
that the cobra became bewildered, whel
the monkey seized the snake by the necl
and proceeded to crush its head to a jell,
by rubbing it on the ground with all hi
might The snake tried to free itself b.
coiling around the monkeys neck, but II
vain; its struggles became weaker AM
weaker until life was extinct. When tn
snakes head had been reduced to a shape
less mass the simian hero dropped the cobr
and executed series of hops and somer
saults.
Up to that moment the other monkey
had maintained the most anxious silence
watching every movement of the combat
ants with eager interest. The snake
death, however, was the signal for the mos
joyous chatterings and gambols. The.
took hold of the conqueror Of the snake
patted him on the head, scratched his back
danced around him and gave every mani
festation of their great appreciation of hi
yaloroqs achievement. The poor mothe
carried about her dead babe for two day
longer.