The National tribune., 1901-04-11

waiting quietly until the monkeys either
got tired or found some other object to
occupy their inconstaut minds. This plan
succeeded admirably. Lazy people who
took no notice of them soon became tire
some, and one by one they fitted away.
Not for beyond we found buck. The
disturbance had reused him; he knew
something must have excited those long
tailed chatterboxes.i but no animal remains
equally wary at all .times-that is ply
siologically impossible, and having got
afoot without finding rcause for alarm, a
fatal Indifference followed. Thus, being
upwind so that no watt of tainted air
could reach his exquisitely sensitive
nostrils, this creaturer stepped out from a
brake and stood at, gaze, the head turned
from us. Struggling sunbeams flashed On
his polished coat. He possessed an ex-
| ceeding beauty of form and attitude;
nevertheless, hungry men will eat when
they can, so our stag fell, without suffer
ing, however, for he left his life in air at
one last bound.
Reverting to the ''bunder log" as Hin
dus call them-the monkey folk-how
many accounts have been given of people
pelted with sticks, fruit, nuts, etc, while
passing through forests. Yet it is safe
TO say that none among the various
thing Intentionally. No doubt cocoa-nuts
and dry branches would fall as they sour
ried about; but using these as missiles inn
plies that such habit has been gradually
established under the stress of defensive
or offensive need, and this doctrine will
not stand criticism at all. During our
halt TO cut up the deer, we saw another
outbreak on their part, i'll which these ex-
cited beings seemed to do everything ex-
cept throw things.
The profound hush of tropical MONDAY
had fallen upon nature. Leaves turned
their faces from the sun; flowers closed,
beasts and insects slept, birds nestled
with outspread wings and gaping bills
wherever a cool spot of ground could be
found. Then all at once the monkeys
went into Mysteries again. If we had
been in India, this outbreak would most
probably have meant that some tiger or
panther was abroad at an untimely hour,
while here it very likely signifed the
presence of their American cousin. There
was not sign of any such visitor, how
ever, and not until we learned where to
look from seeing this fantastic troop con-
centrating at particular place, did the
least indication of danger show itself.
But looking there, the dry grass moved
with slow wave-On-end motion, such as
one sees over a howdah front where
"Stripes" himself is before the elephant.
This unseen beast was approaching
though, and what jaguar would be mad
enough to close with our party in cold
blood. Anyway, we sent the Indians up
trees, and spread out somewhat, while
slowly advancing towards that mysterious
something. When about 10 PAGES off the
movement ceased, and then amidst dust
clouds. thick with broken herbage, a boa
constructor threw itself into coil. At this
the monkeys went completely mad, for
there in plain sight was their deadliest
foe. Worse than the alligator that lui ks
by drinking places, is this swallower
of their kind; more fatal than puma,
jaguar, tiger-cat, or any other destroyer.
1t is certain the reptile looked ugly
enough with its hideous head reared, long
fangs glancing and eyes full of malignity.
a couple of ounce balls. however, nearly
decapitated the serpent, whose tail was
still twitching when our followers pounced
upon it, made fast n creeper line. and
hauled their prize up to the nearest limb.
Travellers who have made experiments
say that snake-meat is drier and more
tastless than any other sort of flesh
though many tribes, both along this cOas
and in Amazonia also, regard it as n
delicacy. Nevertheless we were not dis
posed to try those constructor outlets of
fered to US with reiterated assurances of
their excellence.
TO be continued)