The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-07
lNDIA's SACRED MONKEYS.
They Arc Peat, but Thoy Must Not No
KiIled-NIonkeY Heroia,n

They Arc Peat. but Thoy Must Not No
Killed-Monkey Heroism.
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 mo-
lest them. They run about the streets,
help themselves to whatever they please
Mt the shops, rob orchards and gardens,
and play havoc generally. To thrash
them is regarded as misdemeanor. and
to shoot u monkey might cause a second
mutiny.
The gentleman had u garden where
grew delicious fruits. The sacred mon
keys easily scaled the walls and helped
themselves. They were not content
with simply eating, but amused them
selves with throwing half-munched food
ut 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 to 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 po-
tatocs placed under one of the trees.
The monkeys were watching these
movements from the trees. Presently
every monkey seized hot potato, and
then followed the most unenrthly
scrccches 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 pota-
toes They held them in one hand and
then in the other, and then they would
take Il bite and scald their mouths, and
roll in the dust, writing with pain, but
never letting the potatoes once out of
their grasp. They ate up the potatoes
and then disappeared over the walls and
never returned.
The Englishman once witnessed 4 very
pathetic, as well as heroic, scene in one
of the city squares, i'll 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 con-
sultation amongst themselves. In the
center 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
monkey sprang into the arena. He
carefully approached the cobra, which
prepared itself to strike. The monkey
made few passes, and just as the
snake was about to dart its head he
sprang to one side, and then over the
cobra. This was repeated so often and
with such astounding rapidity that the
cobra became bcwildcrcd, when the
monkey seized the snake by the neck
and proceeded to crush it's head to "a
jelly by rubbing it on the ground with
all his might. The snake tried to free
itself by coiling around the monkeys
neck, but in vain; its struggles became
weaker and weaker until life was ex-
tinct. When the snakes head had been
reduced to shapelcss mass the young
sinian hero dropped the cobra and exc
cuted n series of hops and somcrsaults.
Up to that moment the other MONKEYS
had maintained the most anxious ST.
lence, watching every movement of the
combatant with eager interest The
snakes death, however, was the signal
for the most joyous gatherings and
gambols They took hold of the con-
qucror of the snake, patted him on the
head, scratched his back, danced round
him, and gave every manifestation Of
their great appreciation of his valorous
achievement The poor mother carried
about her dead babe for two days
longer.-N. Y. Times.