The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-02-28
COLOBI MONKEYS
Some Seldom MetW With Animals in the Heart of the
Almost Inaccessible African Jungle
Charles in Outdoor
Charles Cottar, IN Outdoor Life


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than any other variety of monks,
with only the bushbuck, wild pigs,
an occasional Skies monkey and
the prowling leopard for company.
Or when an occasional outcast
native fixes his abode in the rain.
drenched jungle-home of the Co
lobi. Hence he is seldom seen,
and but little known.
So seldom are these shy and
nimble creatures taken, that Co.
lobi.skin headdress made from the
hide, and worn by an occasional
chief of some of the mountain
tribes, is worth many rupees. And,
a short time ago, at a public auc-
tion in Nairobi, a rug made of
sixteen Colobi skins brought
twenty-five pounds sterling.
AS 1 have said, the home of the
Colobi is one of forest seclusion.
Imagine a cane-plant growing on
every square foot of ground and
reaching a height of fifty feet,
with tree or two many feet in
diameter and two hundred feet in
height on every acre, and these
covered with moss and creepers
until the sun never reaches a
square inch of the trunk, and then
rain, rain, rain-incessantly rain
and you have the ideal home of
the Colobi. No wonder, then. that
few ever 60 to his habitat to kill,
capture or study this recluse
species.
Then, again, if you have ever
chased a fying-squirrel through an
open American forest and kept
pace with him for a quarter of an
hour, you can quite imagine a
chase after a Colobi through the
jungle I described above. For, of
the two species, the monk will
quite easily outstrip the squirrel at
vol planning from tree to tree, often
clearing hundred feet in a single
leap, landing in the swaying
branches of the next tree or on
the top of the timber bamboo.
Recently, while in New York
City, l mentioned the fact to DR..
Hornaday. of Colobi being found in
the forests of Kenia, Kilema-Njaro
and the adjacent high country, and
that possibly they might be cap
tured. The keen old naturalist S
eyes twinkled, and a half-smile
curled about his set lips, as he
made a proposition in behalf of the
Bronx for the acquiring of a pair
of this never-before exhibited
species. And the price being at
tractive, when I returned to the
country, and heard of an European
who had procured a living speci-
men from a native who dwelt far
back in the wilderness, at once
began an investigation to learn of
the whereabouts of the said native.
4 A native was soon found who vol
unteered to locate the native hun
ter, and after months absence
returned and reported to have
found him a hundred miles (six
days Journey back from civiliza-
ton. At once we set out in quest
, of his abode. And by taking the
: railway to the nearest point we
, reached the shack in the wilder.
ness at the end of five days, the
last two of which we waded in wa.
, ter from a few inches to foot in
} depth almost continuously, and al
: an altitude of around 1000 feet
and the cold rain chilling us to the
: bone.
But a bargain was soon arranged
, with old Wanderobo, who agreed
> to capture four specimens for six.
teen rupees-a little to the rise Of
. FIVE dollars. But we spent ter
' days and no monk. His method
. of capture was cage-trap con
. structed in favorite spot, of BAN
, boo poles, and carrying a balanc
ing lid in the top. on which bait il
r the way of wild tomatoes. wer,