The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1898-11-04

Z
keys ut Birth.
Monkeys in India are an unmitigated
nuisance, especially in the country.
have often come across in the iupgles
adjoining the villages of northern BEN
gal whole troops of them, whose depre-
dations in fields and orchards were the
despair of tho unfortunate villagers.
These troops always consisted of one
huge male and about 100 females. Tbs
fact is, when little monkey is born in
the pack. it is suffered to live if q fe-
male, but instantly killed by the father
If 1t happens to be a male The mother,
however, sometimes manages to hide
the little one until he is able to get
about and then sends him away before
the big male catches sight of him. In
this way it often happens that indi-
yidual males are to be found living by
themselves in single blessedness. Now.
getting tired of solitude after timo
and perhaps believing in union as a
source of strength, these bachelors often
join together and form pack OF their
own-as u sort of club.
Then the fun begins They want
wives-very naturally. But cow are
they to get them? All the female
monkeys of the country belong to the
harem of some big brute OK other.
Clearly. the only solution is 20 attack
such harem, kill the gotha (the afore-
said big brute), and then divide the
spoils. So an ultimatum is sent-and
rejected. War is declared The battle
is a fierce one and often lasts several
days The party attacked always tries
to retreat and often trayerses several
jungles, fields and even villages. But
the pursuit is hot and vigorous, and AT
last stand has to be made-sometime.
in village green or even an orchard of
some country mansion. In the actual
fight the females generally remain
faithful to their lord and master and
help him fiercely against his numerous
assailants. But the result is foregone
conclusion, and the several widows,
after very short period of mourning
usually manifested by show of i'll
temperate consoled by the victorious
males.
Now, these battles cause sad havoc to
the fields and orchards of the country
and often prove positive danger to the
people, for, though monkeys seldom at
tack men, woe to the luckless ono who
ventures to come near them in their
deadly struggle. Moreover, when pressed
by hunger, these packs are not to be
tritled with. You may not mind even
the damage done to your orchard by
hundreds of monkeys gobbling up every
thing they can lay their hands on. bus
it is quite n different matter when you
have to shut your doors and windows
and stay in for days at time because Of
the army outside.
Consequently the object of the natives
is to break up these packs by capturing
their leaders, Killing is against tho die
tates of conscience, but capture is not.
especially as the monkey is liberated IN
a short time, as will appear presently.
So, when pack is about, the natives en-
ploy the following method: Close to an
orchard n bit of level space is selected
and n hole dug in it, about 3 feet deep
and or s inches in diameter. A moose
is made ct one end of long. stout cord
ant, placed over the mouth or the hole.
The cord is then passed through pulley
or ring attached to tree close to the
'iuus5 1711 rrf5 other end held some dis
lance away by concealed person. The
moose and about 10 or o feet of the
cord are covered with sand. Then nice,
tempting banana is placed in the hole,
and number of rotten ones-covered,
however, with fresh skins--are strewn
all over the ground near the hole.
When the pack comes the females
are too shy to venture out into the open
space near the house, but the big gotha
is u brave fellow. He sees the bananas
on the ground, leaps down, takes up one.
throws ;taway in disgust, then another,
with the same result. Suddenly he no.
tees the nice, tempting one in the hole,
and plunges his arm in. Immediately
the cord is pulled the moose fastened
on the arm close to the shoulder and the
monkey dragged willy nilly to the tree
whore the pulley or ring is attached.
Then the hiding shikari comes forth,
and, circling round and round the tree
with the cord held tight in his hand,
binds the unfortunate monkey safe and
fast all but the head. The pulley or
ring is introduced not merely to bind
| the monkey to the tree, but also because
it would be highly dangerous to drag
the Infatuated brute right up to per-
son.
The monkey, however, is not killed.
Instead they latber his head and face,
no special care being taken in selecting
the finest soap or the purest water. Tho
operation is an interesting one and
source of great amusement-to the by
ISLANDERS The monkey, however, lodges
his head about, only to get good dose
Of soap III his eyes and mouth. Then he
has enough of it, especially as he feels
dreadfully achy all over and the cords
cutting into his body every inch-to
say nothing of the personal remarks and
the highly adjeetiyal language of tho
| byrtondars Ha submits To his fate with