Year: 1865

manton on my shoulder, when heard
a curious noise in tree, almost imme-
diately above ne. l looked up and
found the sounds proceeded from white
monkey that skipped from branch to
branch, chattering away with delight
at beholding a 'sfellow creature Of
larger growth" for so he seemed to
consider me. For a few moments |
took no notice of his antics, and walked
quietly along, till suddenly a large
branch fell at my feet, narrowly escap-
ing my head. again paused, and
found that the missile mad been dropped
by my talkative friend. Without con-
sideration, l instantly turned round and
fired at him.


The report had scarcely sounded
when Iheard the most piercing, the
most distressing cry that ever reached
my ears. The agonized shrek of a
young infant burst from the little crea-
ture whom | had wounded. 1t was
within thirty PAGES of me. could see
the wretched animal, already stained
with blood, point to its wound and again
hear its dreadful moan. The last ago
ny of hare is narrowing to tyro, and
have seen a young sportsman turn
pale on hearing it. The present cry
was, however, more distressing. |
turned round and endeavored to hurry
away. This, however, | found no easy
task for as moved forward the unhap-
Ply creature followed me, springing as
well as it could from bough to bough,
uttering low, wailing moan, and point
ing at the same time at the spot whence
the blood trickled. Then regarding
me steadily but mournfully in the face,
it seemed to reproach me with my wan
ton cruelty. Again | hastened on, but
still it pursued me. When | stopped,
it stopped when attempted to 90 for
ward, it accompanied me. Never in
the whole course of my life did feel so
much for dumb animal never did |
so keenly repent an act of uncalled for
barbarity.


Determined not to allow the poor
monkey thus to lnger in torture, and to
at once end the annoying scene, | sud-
denly came to a halt, and, lowering nv
gun, which was only single barreled,
was about to reload it for the purpose
of dispatching the manned creature,
when, springing from the tree, it ran to
within half a dozen PAGES of me and be-
gan to cry most piteously and roll itself
in agony, occasionally picking up earth
with which to staunch the blood by
stuflng it into the wound, that, in spite
of my resolution, when | fired | was so
nervous almost missed my aim, infict-
ing another wound which broke the an
imal's leg, but nothing more. Horri-
fed beyond endurance, threw down
my gun and actually fed.


In about half an hour | returned for
the purpose of fetching my manton, full
ly expecting that the poor animal had
left the spot. What, then, was my
surprise to find crowd of monkeys
surrounding the wretched sufferer. As
| advanced under the shade of some
trees, stole almost close to them be-
fore they perceived me. took adyan-
tage of this circumstance to watch their
movements. The stricken monkey was
crying out in most piteous manner,
while the others were busily engaged in
tearing up the wound, endeavoring to
destroy the already dreadfully maimcd
creature. A shout drove them all away
save the dying animal.


| advanced-the little monkey was
rolling in agony. took my gun which
lay beside him, fancicd he cast one
look of supphcation on me, one prayer
to be relieved from his misery. | did
not hesitate-with one blow of the butt
end | dashed out his brains. Then
turning round, slowly returned to my
quarters, more profoundly dispirited
than | had felt for months.


Take my advice, sensible reader, if
you must live in India, never shoot a
monkey.