The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1898-11-12
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.

THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.
Lnushable Tactics Employed by tie
Natives to Dispense the BelliSerent
Packs-Little Chance For Male Mon
keys at Birth.
Monkeys in India are an unmitigated
nuisance, especially in the country. I
have often come across in the jungles
adjoining the villages of northern Ben
gal whsle troops of them, whose depre-
dations in fields and orchards were the
despair of the unfortunate villagers.
These troops always consisted of one
huge male and about 100 females. The
fact is, when 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 a male. The mother,
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-
vidual males are to be found living by
themselves in single blessedness. Now,
getting tired of solitude after a time
and perhaps believing in union as a
source of strength, these bachelors often
join together and form pack of their
own-as sort Of club.
Then the fun begins. They want
wives-very naturally. But how are
they to get them? All the female
monkeys of the country belong to the
harem of some big brute or other.
Clearly, the only solution is to 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 fierce one and often lasts several
days. The party attacked always tries
to retreat and often traverses several
jungles, fields and even villages. But
the pursuit is hot and vigorous, and at
last stand has to be made-sometimes
in village green or even an orchard Of
some country mansion. In the actual
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faithful to their lord and master and
help him fercely against his numerous
assailants. But the result is a 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 one who
ventures to come near them in their
deadly struggle. Moreover, when pressed
by hunger. these packs are not to be
trif1ed 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 at "a 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 die
tates Of conscience, but capture is not,
especially as the monkey is liberated in
a short time, as will appear presently:
So, whenja pack is about, the natives en-
ploy the following method: Close to an
orchard bit of level space is selected
and hole dug in it, about feet deep
and or 8 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 a tree close to the
house and the other end held some dis
lance away by concealed person. The
moose and about 10 or ] 8 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 brave fellow. He sees the bananas
on the ground, leaps down, takes up one,
throws it away in disgust, then another,
with the same result. Suddenly he no.
tices 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
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 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 a 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. The
operation is all interesting one and a
source of great amusement-t the BY
ISLANDERS The monkey, however, lodges
his head ahont onlv tn paf; a good dose