The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-10-14
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.


Natives to Disperse the BeIIigerent
Packs-LittIe Chance For Male Nom
keys at Birth.
Monkeys in India are an unmitigated
nuisance, especially in the country. !
have often come across in the jungles
adjoining the villages of northern Ben
Ial whole troops of them, whose depre-
cations 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 20 live if fe-
male, but instantly killed by the father
if it happens to be 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-
vidual males are 10 be found living by
themselves in single blessedness. Now,
getting tired of solitude after time
and perhaps believing in union as
source of strength, these bachelors often
join together and form pack of their
own-as a 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 a stand has to he made-sOmetimes
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 a fOregOne
conclusion, and the several widows,
after very short period Of mourning
usually manifested by a show of Ill
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
trified 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
1t is quite different matter when you
have to shut your doors and windows
and stay III 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 the die
tates of conscience, but capture is not,
especially rs the monkey is liberated IN
a short time, as will appear presently.
So, when a pack is about, the natives en-
pIoy the following methkd: Close to an
orchard bit Of level space is selected
and hole dug in it, about feet deep
and or inches IN diameter. A moose
is made at Cne end of a long, stout cord
and placed over the mouth Of the hole
The cord is then passed through pulley
or ring attached to tree close TO the
house and the other end held some dis
tance away by a concealed person. The
moose and about 10 or ! ) feet Of the
cord are covered with sand. Then q nice,
tempting banana is placed in the hole,
and a 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 a 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 OF
ring is introduced not merely to bind
the monkey to the tree, but also because
it would be highly dangerous to drag
the infuriated brute right up to per.
son.
The monkey, however, is not killed
Instead thev lather his head and f-re