The Florence daily tribune., 1898-11-07
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.

Monkeys in India are an unmitieated
nuisance, especially in the country.
have often come across in the jungles
adjoining the villages of northern Ben.
gal whole troops of them, whose depre.
dations In fields and orchards were tho
despair of the unfortunate villagers.
These troops always consisted of ons
huge male and about 100 females. The
fact is. when n little monkey is born in
the pack. it is suffered to live if fe-
male, but instantly killed by the father
If it happens to be n 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 iudi-
vidual males arc 10 be found living by
themselves in single blessedness Now,
getting tired of solitude after II time
and perhaps believing in union rs A
source of strength, these bachelors often
Join together and form a pack of their
own--as a sort of a.
Then the fun begins They want
wives-very naturally. But ~ow are
they to get them2 All the female
monkeys Of the country belong to tho
harem of some big brute or other.
GiassFraJss.fe only suintion rs 10 ssst.sua
such harem, kill the gotha >the afore-
said big brute), and then divide the
spoils. 80 an uitimatum is sont-ailti
rejected. War is declared. The battle
is fierce one and often lasts several
days. The party attacked always tries
to retreat and often trayerses several
5ungles, fields and even villages. But
the pursuit is hot and vigorous, and at
last a stand has to be made-sometimes
in village green or even an orchard of
some country mansion. In the actual
fight the females genorsily 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 a positive danger to tho
people, for, though monkeys seldom at
tack men, woe to the luckless one who
ventures to come near them in their
deadly struggle. Moreover, when pressed
by hunger. these packs are not to be
trifled 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, but
it is quite different matter when you
have to shut your doors and windows
and stay in for days ut u 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 the dic-
tates Of conscience, but capture IL not,
especially as the monkey is liberated in
short time, as will appear presently
So, when a pack is about, the natives en-
ploy the following method: Close to an
orchard u bit of level space is selected
end q hole dug In 1t, abont 2 feet deep
and 8 or inches in diameter. A moose
is made at one end Of long, stout cord
and placed over the mouth of the hole.
The cord is then passed through a pulley
or ring attached TO tree close to the
house and the other end held come dis
lance away by concealed person. The
moose and about 10 or . feet Of the
cord are covered with sand. Then nice,
tempting banana is placed in the hole,
and n number Of rotten ones-covered,
however, with fresh skins-are stTewn
all over the ground near the hole.
When the pack comes, the females
,txr
space near the house, but the big gotha
is brave fellow. He secs the bananas
on the ground, Leaps down, takes up one,
throws it away in disgust, then another,
with the came result. Suddenly he TO-
tees the Moe, tempting one in the hole,
and piunges mis- 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
where 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 OF
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 lather his head and face,
no special care being taken In selecting
the finest soap or the purest water. The
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 in his eyes and mouth. Then he
has enough Of it, especially as he feels
dreadfully aohy all over and the cords
cutting into his body every inoh-to
say nothing Of the personal remarks and
the highly adjeotival language of the
bystanders. He submits to his fate with
eastern stoicism. His head is shaved
Claan as a billiard hall and then the