Anecdotes of a Diana Monkey., 9 



commend them to look attentively at the bubbles, or the 

 crumbs that float on the surface of a basin of tea, and they 

 will soon be convinced, that change of relative position is 

 not a sufficient proof of spontaneous motion or vitality. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Hampstead, Feb, 29. 1829. Robt. Bakewell. 



PS. — Since the above was written, I have most carefully 

 re-examined various mineral and inorganic substances, with- 

 out discovering any proper motion of the molecules if the 

 water was recently boiled. When I used unboiled water, I 

 was once or twice deceived by an 'apparent motion which, I 

 am convinced, was caused by animalcules previously existing 

 in the water. — R, B., Feb, 20. 



Art. II. Anecdotes of a Diana Monkey, By Mrs. Bowdich. 



Sir, 

 Although anecdotes of monkeys are as numerous as the 

 beings to whom they owe their origin, although they are 

 brought forward to all ages, and at all times, still I have ob- 

 served that no one gets tired of them, that their histories or 

 portraits create an interest common to all human beings, of 

 whatever race, or in whatever situation. The negro delights 

 in relating the wonders or rogueries they perform, and the 

 saying, " that monkeys could talk if they liked, only they are 

 afraid white men would make them work if they did," is every 

 where to be heard among the more indolent inhabitants of the 

 tropics. English men, women, and children resemble their 

 black brethren : and there is yet another feeling in which the 

 most 'savage and the most refined seem to agree, it is the 

 dislike, or mortification, call it what you will, which we feel in 

 seeing how nearly they resemble ourselves. There was a 

 restless, tormenting, and agile creature on board a vessel in 

 which I sailed up an African river, who was incessantly teasing 

 and hovering about me. If I called another, he was sure to 

 leap across the deck, and come to perform that which the 

 other would have done much better. I never thought myself 

 quite alone, but this fellow's head was sure to start from some 

 unexpected corner ; and one day, wearied with his officious- 

 ness, I pointed to a black monkey sitting opposite to us, and 

 said to him, " Rapoynda, that is your brother." Kind words, 

 presents, nought availed me afterwards, for I was never for- 

 given. The same feeling might be traced in a very different 

 form, when a friend of mine pulled me away from the con tern- 



