The Florence daily tribune., 1899-01-06
MONKEYS OF INDIA.
THE HAVOC THEY CAUSE BY THEIR
WARS FOR WIVES.

Monkeys In India are an unmitigated
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 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 il fe-
male, but instantly killed by the father
IL it happens to be r 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 TO be found living by
themselves in single blessedness. 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
OWNS sort of club
Then the fun begins They want
wives-very naturally. But sIw are
they to get themf 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 IA stand has to be made-sometimes
in a 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
Assailan.s But the result is 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 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 i'll 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 mp every
thing they can lay their hands on, but
II is quite different matter when you
have to shut your doors and windows
and stay in for days at u 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 AZ the monkey is liberated in
| q 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 a hole dug in 1t, about 2 feet deep
and 8 or inches in diameter. A moose
10 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 tree close to the
house and the other end held some dis
|
moose and about 10 or 10 feet Of the
oord 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
ia brave fellow. He sees the bananas
on the ground, leape down, tnkes up one,
throws it away in disgust, then another,
with the same result. Suddenly he no.
tioes the nioe 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
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 n
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 is, especially as be feels
dreadfully achy all over and the cords
cutting into his body every inch-to
say MORNING of the personal remarks and
the highly adjectival language Of the
bystanders. He submits to his fate with
eastern stoicism- His head is shaved
| nlaAra- As a billiard hall and then the