266

QUESTIONABLE SPORT.

animal in a state of nature is derived from the "Natural History of Senegal," by Adanson, the Scoto-French naturalist, who resided in the country for several years, and diligently studied its productions, both animal and vegetable. At one place, he tells us, he went on shore to divert himself with his gun. "The place was very woody, and full of Green Monkeys, which I did not perceive, but by their breaking the boughs and the tops of the trees, which they tumbled down on me; for in other respects they were so silent and nimble in their tricks, that it would have been difficult to perceive them. Here I stopped, and killed two or three of them before the others seemed to be much frightened; however, when they found themselves wounded, they began to look about for shelter, some by hiding behind the larger boughs, others by coming down upon the ground, others, and by far the greater number, by jumping from one tree to another. Nothing could be more entertaining, when several of them jumped together on the same bough, than to see it bend under them, and the hindmost drop down to the ground, whilst the rest got farther on, and others were still suspended in the air. As this game was going on, I continued to shoot at them; and though I killed no fewer than three-and-twenty in less than an hour, yet not one of them screeched the whole time, notwithstanding that they united in companies, knit their brows, gnashed their teeth, and seemed as if they intended to attack me." A vivid picture that, and of use here; but we wonder whether, while engaged in this excellent "sport," than which, he tells us, he does not think "there ever was better," the good easy naturalist ever thought of the fable of the frogs in the pond.

In the highest group of the Monkeys we find the cheekpouches absent and the thumb only partially developed. The Monkeys of this division are all natives of India, the peninsula of Malay, and the adjacent islands, and are termed by Cuvier "Slow Monkeys," rather, it would seem, from their listless and apathetic disposition, than from any incapacity for active and vivacious movements. One of the most remarkable Monkeys of the section is the Kahan, or Proboscis Monkey (Semnopithecus larvatus), a native of Borneo, and, without question, the most unlovely of all Sir James Brooke's numerous zoological neighbours. Kahan is its native name, and represents the deep-toned cry with which

A MONKEY BARDOLPH.

267 it swells the concerts of the Bornean woods. The name Proboscis Monkey is derived from its enormously developed nasal appendage, which, wrinkled and pendulous when the animal is unexcited, is immediately, on the slightest provocation, distended, and made to stand out in a huge facial promontory, which gives its owner an expression at once ludicrous and horrible. These animals climb and walk far more deliberately than other monkeys, and in sleeping squat on their hams, like the Dyaks, and lean the head forward on the breast. They associate in large troops, and morning and evening assemble along the borders of the wooded rivers, to gambol among the higher branches of the trees, holding their noses, if the natives may be believed, the while they leap from branch to branch. The Kahan has never yet been brought to Europe alive; but the time will come, no doubt, when this veritable Bardolph of the Monkey tribe will find his way to our shores, and figure for a time as first "lion" in the Regent's Park.

Not less interesting than the Kahan, and belonging to the same uncharacteristic section of the Monkey tribe, is the Hoonuman, or Sacred Monkey of India (Semnopithecus entellus), which, from the remotest antiquity, has been regarded with extreme veneration throughout a great part of Hindostan. The Hoonuman is one of the largest and most handsome of the Asiatic Monkeys; its general colour is a pale yellow, while its hands, feet, and face are black, the latter surrounded by a circle of long white hairs. The author of the volume on Monkeys in the "Library of Entertaining Knowledge," tells us that "Splendid and costly temples are dedicated to these animals; hospitals are built for their reception when sick or wounded; large fortunes are bequeathed for their support; and the laws of the land, which compound for the murder of a man by a trifling fine, affix the punishment of death to the slaughter of a Monkey. Thus cherished and protected, the Hoonuman abounds over every part of India, enters the houses and gardens of the natives at will, and plunders them of fruit and eatables without molestation; the visit is even considered an honour, and the Indian peasant would consider it an act of the greatest sacrilege to disturb or drive them away. They generally take up their residence in the topes or groves of trees, which the people plant round their villages to screen them from the too ardent rays of the sun; but they are permitted to

occupy the houses in common with the inhabitants, and are described by a late traveller as to be seen by dozens playing on the flat roofs, or perched with much gravity at the open verandahs, to observe the passing crowd."

The natives of India express their veneration for this Monkey in a variety of ways. There is a superstition common amongst them that any one dwelling on a spot where a Hoonuman has been killed, will be sure to die: its bones even are believed to be unlucky; and it is said that no house erected on the land where any of its bones lie concealed can prosper. Hence when a house is to be built, the greatest care is taken to ascertain whether any of these ill-omened bones are concealed in the neighbourhood. Guarded so carefully when alive, and dreaded so much when dead, it is no wonder that the Hoonuman is extremely abundant and seldom comes to harm. The rarity with which one of these animals is seen dead is expressed by a common proverb, to the effect that "He who has seen a white crow, the nest of a paddy bird, a straight cocoa-nut tree, or a dead Monkey, is certain to live for ever."

It will readily be believed that Europeans, having no very pious regard for Monkeys, find the Hoonuman a rather troublesome guest, and sometimes receive his unwelcome visits in a manner which a regard for their own safety prompts them carefully to conceal from native eyes. It would seem, however, that the Hindoos themselves are by no means averse to employing the Hoonuman as a means of working out their evil purposes upon each other. In Dhuboy, where it is said there are as many Monkeys as human inhabitants, if a man wishes to avenge himself on his neighbour for any insult or injury, he takes the opportunity, just before the periodical rains set in, of repairing to the offender's roof, and scatters over it a quantity of rice or other grain. This is soon discovered by the Monkeys, who not only devour it, but pull up all the tiles in search of what has fallen through the crevices. At this critical juncture the rains commence, and as no one can be found to re-set the tiles, the house is deluged, and the unfortunate occupier effectually punished.

Next in order to the Slow Monkeys, and constituting the lowest division of the Apes, come the Gibbons, chiefly distinguished by their slenderness of form, and by the great length of their arms, whence, indeed, they are commonly known as the

Long-armed Apes. All the details of the structure of these animals point them out as being specially designed for the widespreading forests of tropic regions, in which alone they are found, and where they display the most astonishing activity. They spend their time almost wholly upon trees, and sweep from branch to branch with arrow-like velocity, sometimes clearing spaces of from thirty to forty feet at a single swing. Suspending themselves by their long arms, they launch their bodies forward, aiming at some distant branch, which they seize with marvellous precision, and again sweep onwards without any pause, and with the slightest perceptible effort. The Gibbons are distributed through Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Malacca, and Siam, associating in herds or troops, occasionally of as many as a hundred or a hundred and fifty individuals; some species fre quenting the mountain ranges covered by forests of fig-trees, others keeping to the forests of the plains.

There are several species of these animals, all of which are more or less timid and gentle, and easily domesticated, though they are by no means destitute of courage when at large in their own woods. One of the most characteristic of the tribe is the Agile Gibbon (Hylobates agilis), a native of Sumatra, where it is termed the Wugka-puti, from a loud and not unmusical whooping call-note which it utters in the early morning in its native forests. The activity of this Gibbon, and the velocity of its movements, are truly wonderful. It escapes from pursuit almost like a bird on the wing; rushing on the slightest alarm to the top of a tree, and then seizing some flexible branch, launching itself forward from tree to tree with a precision and rapidity that speedily carries it to a safe distance.

The largest of the Gibbons is the Siamang, Hylobates syndactylus, a bold and powerful animal, confined exclusively to Sumatra, in the forests of which it abounds, making their leafy solitudes resound with its loud and discordant cries. It is much less active in its habits than most of the Gibbons, but fully as gentle and affectionate in a state of captivity. It is said that the female Siamang carries its young to the water, and washes their faces with as much care and attention as a human parent; and further, that the baby-apes are as little fond of the operation, and cry and squeal under its infliction as vigorously, as baby-men.

Dr. G. Bennett has given an extremely interesting account of

270

AN AMUSING PLAYMATE.

one of these animals, which for some time lived in his possession on board ship. It was gentle, but lively and frolicsome, and occasionally rather apt to get out of temper. It became very intimate with a little Papuan girl on board, and would often sit with her near the capstan, its long arms round her neck, the two lovingly eating biscuit together. In his gambols with the child, he would roll on the deck with her, push her away with his feet, then entwine his long arms around her, and playfully pretend to bite. With some Monkeys on board he was equally disposed to be on good terms, but they avoided his company, and to revenge himself he took every opportunity of teasing them, and pulling their tails. One feature in the habits of this animal is peculiarly interesting. He invariably left his play when a vessel passed at sea, and taking up a position on the peak-halyards, would sit there, gazing intently across the waters at the departing ship, till it could no longer be seen.

The Orang-Outang (Pithecus satyrus) was long a puzzle to the early naturalists, the great Linnæus himself not excepted. It figures in all the earlier editions of the "Systema Natura" as a veritable wild man of the woods, and is described as coming abroad only at night, and conversing in a kind of whistling voice. The Orang is a native of Borneo and Sumatra, in the former o which islands there are two distinct species, one of comparatively small size, timid and gentle, the other a huge beast, standing nearly six feet high, and only found in the deepest parts of the forests. These monsters are much dreaded by the natives, who regard them as having a natural dominion over the secluded depths of the forest, and as being animated by the souls of their own ancestors. Intercourse with Europeans, however, is gradually undermining these superstitions; and it is now no unusual thing to meet with natives nothing loth to go in quest of the Mias, -as the Dyaks and Malays name the animal-braving all its terrors, natural and supernatural, "for a consideration."

Since Sir James Brooke has laid his strong hand on Sarawak, Europeans have had comparatively little difficulty in exploring the wilds of Borneo; and, as a consequence, the habits of the Orang are becoming pretty accurately known. Amongst others Mr. Wallace has been upon the track of the monster, and he has since given us a very full and complete account of the private life of this monarch of the Bornean woods. The Orang, it ap