The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-09
MONKEYS ARE PESTS.
Travel in Gangs and Commit Numerous
Drepredstions.


D~repredstions.
Monkeys are an unmitigated null
sance, especially in the mi
have often come across in the jungles
adjoining The villa ges of northern Ben
gal whole troops OF them, whose dep
relations in the fields and orchards
were the despair of the unfortunate
villagers. These troops always con-
sisted OF one huge male and 100 fe-
males. The fact is, when a little mon
Key is born in the pack. IT is suffered
10 I'VE IL a female. but instantly killed
by the father Il IL happens to be a
male. The mother. however, some
times Is able to hide the little one until
ne Is able to get about. and Their sends
nm away before the big male catches
sight OF him. In this way IL often hap
pens that individual males are to be
round living by themselves In single
I~Iessednsss. Now, getting tired of soii-
tude after a. time. n perhaps believ-
ing In union as a source of strength
these bachelors often join together and
club.
Then the fun begins. They want
MiVes-very naturally. But how are
they TO get them? All the female mon
Keys OF the country belong to the har-
EN- OF some big brute or other. Clearly.
the only solution is to attack such a
harem. kill the gotha (the aforesaid big
prute), and then divide the spoils So
an ultimatum is sent-and rejected
war is declared. The battle is a fierce
one, ana often lasts several days. The
party attacked always tried to retreat.
ana OFTEN traverses several jungles
heids and even villages. But the pur-
sur IS not and vigorous. and a last
stand has to be made-sometimes i'm =
N'tdSe green, or even an orchard of
some country mansion. In the actual
hght the females generally remain
aIthful TO their lord and master ana
help MIN Hereby against his numerous
assallants. But the result is a foregons
conclusion, and the several widows. AFT
ca a very snort period of mourning
usually manifested by a show OF in
males. 'Ious
NOW, these battles cause sad havoc
10 the fields and orchards of the conn
Try, N often prove a positive danger
70 lne people, for, though monkeys sell
oo attack men, woe to the luckless
one VINO ventures TO come near them
IN their deadly struggle. Moreover,
Mhen pressed by hunger, these packs
are not TO be trif1ed with. You may
not ind even the damage done Ia
your orchard by hundreds ofmonkeys
up everything they can Law
their hands on, but IL is quite n dif-
ferent matter when you have 70 shut
your doors and windows and stsv I'm
Tor Gays at a time because of the army
outside. '
Consequently the object of the ns-
yves rs 10 break up these packs by
capturing their leaders. Killing is
against the dictates of conscience, but
capture is not, especially as the mon
Key is liberated in a short time, as will
appear presently. So when a pack is
ABOUT the natives employ the follow
ing methods: Close to an orchard n
DIT OF level space is selected and a hole
jug IN IT, about two feet deep n six
lnches or eight inches in diameter. a
moose is made at one end of a long
STOUT cord, and placed over the mouth
or the hole. The cord is then passed
through a pulley attached to a tree
close to the house, and the other end
heId some distance away by a CON
cealed person. The moose and about
10 or 10 feet of the cord are covered
over with sand. Then a nice, temnt-
ing banana is placed in the hole and a
NUMBER or rotten o~nes-covered, how
ever with fresh skins-are strewn an
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
Dig gotha is a brave fellow. He sees
the bananas on the ground. leans
down. takes up one-throws il away
In disgust. Their an~other-with the
same result. Suddenly he notices the
nice mptl one in the hole and
plunge 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 when the pulley, or ring, Is at
Then the hiding shikari comes forth.
and, circling round and round the tree
With the pprH held ffqhf - ~. -
binds the unfortunate monkey safe
ana fast, all but the head. The pulley
Or ring is introduced not merely to bind
the monkey 10 the tree, but also be-
cause 1t would be highly dangerous to
irag the Infatuated brute right up to a
person.
The monkey, however. is not killed.
Instead, they lather his head and face.
10 special care being taken in selecting
ne nnest soap or the purest water.
fhe operation is an interesting ane
a source OF great amusement-to
ne bystanders. The monkey. how
yer, lodges his head about. only to
ret a good dose of Dap in his eyes and
mouth. Then he has enough of IL.
specially as he feels ~dreadfully achy
III over, N the cords cutting into
lis body every inch. to say nothing of
he personal remarks and the highly
Ldjectival language of the b~ystanders.
lie submits to his fate with earnest
toicism. His head is shaved clean
8 a billiard ball, and the face as well.
lice and smooth, like a baby's. Then
hey let him go. But. alasi such Is
he vanity of life! His wives will not
ave him now that his beauty is gone!
hey disown his completely: cut him
Now, they drive him away from
he pack with contumely. with the end
4 their tails-in the absence of a do
broomstick. And thus. being ]
a leader, the pack is soon {
roken up.-Strand Magazine.