The Florence daily tribune. (Florence, Colo.) 1898-1903, 1898-11-01
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.

| Packs-Little Chance For Male Mon
keys at Birth.
Monkeys in India are an unmitignted
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 one
huge male and about 100 femalea Tho
fact is. when little monkey is born in
the pack, it is suffered to live il fe-
male, but instantly killed by the father
II 1t 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 1t often happens that indi-
| vtdual males are TO be found living by
| themselves in single blessedness Now,
getting tired of solitude after a time
ard frert=;sa ssll:.aassfs:sss Ia sai:o,, ~, .
source of strength. these bachelors often
join together and form a pack Of their
own--as a sort of club.
Then the fun begins They want
wives-very naturally. But COW are
they to get thema All the female
monkeys Of the country belong to tho
harem OF some big brute or other.
Clearly, the only solution is to attnok
such harem, kill the gotha (the afore-
said big brute). and then divide the
spoils So an ultimntum IL sent-and
rejected. War Ia declared. The battle
Is fierce one and often lasts several
days The party attacked always tries
to retreat and often traverses scyerai
jungles, fields and even villages. But
the pursuit is hot and vigorous, and ut
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 generally 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 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
trifed 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 lie quite different matter when You
have to shut your doors and windows
and stay in for days ut 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 do Z
tates Of conscience, but capture IL not
especially as the monkey 10 liberated In
short time, as will appear presently.
So, when pack is about, the natives en-
ploy the following method: Close to an
orchard bit of level space is selected
and hole dug In 1t, about 3 feet deep
and or 8 inches in diameter. A moose
is made at one end OF long, stout cord
and placed ever 4hc sao1.i. os the hole.
The cord is then passed through pulley
or ring attached to tree close to the
house and the other end held come dis
tanoe away by concealed person. The
moose and about 10 or g feet Of the
cord are covered with sand. Then nice,
tempting banana is placed In the hole,
and a number Of rotten ones-oovered,
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 secs the bananas
on the ground. leape down, takes up one.
throws 1t away In disgust, then another.
with the came 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 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. ia 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 1t, 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 adjectival language Of the