The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-20
MONKEY STORIES.
Curious Tales Told of the Animals In In.
dia and South Africa.

Curious Tales Told of the Animals In In.
dia and South Africa.
1t is still an article of faith. not only
in India, but in all lands where
monkeys go in packs, that they have a
king, laws and language, of course.
Saving the first item. and duly limit
ing the others. the belief is sound, no
doubt. But Iben Batuta tells us, on
the authority of ''pious persons" he
met in India, that the king lives in
state. Four nOblemen always attend
him with rods in their hands, and
cooks serve him on their knees. Mkt
tin. the Russian traveller of the fifteenth
century. gives more details. The king
has a train of EARNED followers"
When subject is caught he
contrives to send message to the
sovereign, who forthwith dispatches
an army. .'And when they come
to the town they pull down the houses
and beat the people; and their armies,
it is said, are many" This is not quite
so ridiculous as it looks, for the sacred
apes that frequent an Indian village
will really gather to avenge an injury,
and it is a common practice with them
to destroy the hut when angered. But
it may have occurred to Nikitin that
his statement was too broad. He ex-
plains. therefore, how monkeys are
caught with impunitv. They have a
great many children. land when
child is unlike its father and mother
it is thrown out on the high road.
Thus they are taken by the Hindoos,
who teach them every sort of handi-
craft, or sell them at night, that they
may not find their way home" He
mentions also that at Sha bar. which
appears to have been somewhere near
Madras, people dare not travel at
night in the woods for fear of monkeys
which is certainly not exact. since
the creatures never move after sun
down: but if there be foundation of
truth in the legend, it is curious. We
are not aware that any Indian apes at
this day viii attack passer by unless
gravely provoked. But there are plenty
elsewhere that will.
When diamonds were first discovered
in South Africa, Europeans f,ocking to
that thinly peopled region became
aware of an annoyance, not to say dam
ger, which they had not reckoned
among the chances of the Journey
Many a lonely kloof was frequented
by tribe of apes. which dwelt among
the rocks above, and descended to feed
many do still. no doubt, but not on
the beaten tracks. In summer weather
diggers camped out and started at sun
rise. rested during the heat, and re-
sumed in the late afternoon-the
feeding times. As often as not
the big male apes gathered prompt
" TO defend the pass. We never
heard of a serious accident on au-
thority. though plenty are reported
The brutes are not less formidable in
appearance than in fact. and when. at
a flight of stones, they charge. roar
ing and screaming. travellers are rarely
SO stupid as TO face them. In ISL
there was defle in the district OF
Albania which had been closed by apes
for several wears Neither Beers nor
English settlers willingly assail them.
owing. we understand. to a belief that
they avenge themselves upon the crops
Of the aggressor. Mess Mr.. Mans /
field Parkyns exaggerated tie intelli-
gence and discipline of their kinsfoik
in Abyssinia this notion j. not 50 sb-
surd-if. rs is always proba Die. the az /
gressors crops were those nearest &C
he colony
Mr. ParIxvns SAYS that he often 4
watched them descending :he rocks to /
feed. The old males 90 irst-some Of 4
them scout on either flank. and all /
climb every esniperce near tlss line % 4
march to assure themselves tia: 4,
the route Is safe After re- 4
eonnoi;erin-. they gave orders 4
IN such different tones OF voice 4
that each must have a SPECIAL mean /
ing The elders are silent when aG-
vaaciug: bu. the main body. females
and Young. keep ND an ince>saat chat
ter. psaviug and feeding - t-iev 20. /.
Ea.s>s brought to An iustsutars-ous
hat ur signal SeaiR4 follows IL.
rear guar, % males. - no oriye i5lieY-
ers OF sharply On reaching The corn
fields the scouts take pos, as roz:n,L
while AZ tine r-7f fall 10 piuua-rihg
With the utmost expedition 2lIinss
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