The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-10-26
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC They CAUSE BY THEIR
wAns ron WIVES.

LaumhnNrr Tactics Ewo,o,cd ny the
Nnti,ca to Dispcrsc the Bciiigcrcnt
pnckr-i.i,tt- chance For Male Mon
keys NJ pirth.
Monkeys in India aro an unmitigatcd
nuisance, especially in the country.
have often como across IN tho iungles
adjoining the villages Of northern Ben.
gal whole troops of them, whose depre-
dations in fields aud orchards were the
despair nf 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 tu live IL a fc-
male, hut instantly killed by the father
IL 1t happens to hea male Tho mother,
however. sometimes manages To hide
the little ono until ho IL able to- get
about and then sends him away before
the big male catches sight of him. In
this way IL often happens that indi-
vidual males are TO he found living by
themselves. In single blosscdncss. Now,
getting tired Of solitude after time
and perhaps believing In union as n
source of strength, these bachelors often
join together and form pack Of their
own--as n sort t,uf club.
Then the fun begins. They want
wivos-very naturally. But how arc
they to get themP All the female
monkeys of the country belong to tho
harcm of some big brute or other
Clearly, the only solution is to attack
such harcm, kill tho gotha (the afore.
said big brute), and then divide the
spoils. So an ultimatum is sent-and
rejected War is declared. The battle
is u fierce one aud often lasts several
days. The party attacked always tries
jungles, fields and even villages. But
the pursuit is hot and vigorous, and at
last stand has to- be made--sometime
in n 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 ia foregone
conclusion, and the several widows,
after very short period of mourning
usually manifested by show Of i'll
temper-are consoled by the victorious
males
Now, these battles cause sad havoc 20
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
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
II Ia quite different matter when you
have to shut your doors aud windows
and stay in for days at time because of
the army outside.
Consequently the object Of tho natives
is to break up these packs by capturing
their leaders Killing IL against the die
tates OF conscience, but capture IL not,
especially as the monkey is liberated in
a short time, as will appear presently.
So, when pack is about, the natives en-
orchard bit of level space is selected
and hole dug in 1t, about 3 feet deep
and Q or 8 inches in diameter. A moose
is made ut one end Of long, stout cord
and placed over the mouth Of the hole.
The cord is then passed through pulley
or ring attached to a tree close to the
house and the other end held some dis
fanca oxvav h,, m oouooalad ,,arco,, Th>
moose and about 10 or ID 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
il 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.
tioes 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 tho 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
1t would be highly dangerous to drag
the infuriated 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, dodges
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 achy all over and the cords
cutting into his body every inch-to
say nothing Of the personal remarks and
the highly adjectiyal language of the
bvstanders He submits IN his fate with