The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-01
POLYGAMOUs MONKEY PACKS.
How they Are Broken Up by Humfi-
iating the Simian Brigham Young.
The Strand.

Monkeys in India are an unmitigated
nuisance, especially in the country. nave
often come across in the Jungles ADJOINING
the villages of northern Bengal whole
troops of them, whose depredationS in
fields and orchards were the despair OF the
unfortunate villagers. These troops always
consist of one huge male and about one
hundred females. The fact is, when q lit
tie monkey is born in the pack it is suffered
to live if a female. but instantly killed by
the father if it happens to be a male. The
mother, however, sometimes manages 10
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 individual males
are to be found living by themselves IN
solitude after a time and perhaps believing
in union as q source of strength, these
bachelors often join together and form a
pack of their own-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 a harem, kill the gotha
(the aforesaid big brute) and then divide
the SpOilS. So an ultimatum is sent and re-
jected. War is declared. The battle is a
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 be
made-sometimes in a village green or even
an orchard of some country mansion. In
the actual fight the females generally re-
main faithful to their lord and master and
help him iercely against his numerous as
sailants. But the result is a foregone con-
clusion, and the several widows after a
very short period of mourning-usually
manifested by a 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 a positive danger to the people,
for, though monkeys seldom attack men,
woe to the luckless one who ventures to
come near them in their deadly struggle.
Moreover, when pressed by hunger these
not mind even the damage done to your
orchard by hundreds of monkeys gobbling
up everything they can lay their hands on.
but il is quite a different matter when you
nave 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 dictates of
conscience, but capture is not, especially as
the monkey is liberated in a short time. as
Will appear presently. So, when a pack is
about. the natives employ the following
method: Close to an orchard a bit of level
space is selected and a hole dug in il about
two feet deep and six or eight inches in
diameter. A moose is made at one end of a
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 distance away by a concealed person.
The moose and about ten or fifteen feet of
the cord are covered with sand. Then a
nice, tempting banana is placed i'm the hole.
and a number of rotten Ones-COvered. how
ever. with fresh skins-are strewn all over
the ground.
When the pack comes. the females are
too shy TO venture out into the open space
near the house, but the big gotha is q brave
fellow. He sees the bananas on the ground.
leaps down. takes up one. throws il away
in disgust. then another. with the same re-
suit. Suddenly he notices the nice. tempt
ing one IN the hole and plunges his arm i'm.
Immediately the cord is pulled. the moose
fastened on the arm close 10 the shoulder.
and the monkey dragged willy-nilly to the
tree. where the pulley or ring is attached.
Then the hiding shikart comes forth. and.
circling round and round the tree with the
cord held tight In his hand. binds the un-
fortunate monkey safe and fast. all but the
head. The pulley or ring is I'M not
merely TO bind the monkey to the tree. but
also because IL would be highly dangerous
to drag the Infatuated brute right up TO a
person.
The monkey, however. is not killed. In
stead. they lather his head and face. no
special care being taken in selecting the
finest soap or the purest water. The opera
tion IS an interesting one and a source of
great amusement 10 the b~vstanders. The
monkey, however. lodges his head about.
only to get a good dose Of SOAP i'm his eyes
and mouth. Then he has enough of il,
especially as he feels dreadfuIly achy ali