THE MONKEY TRIBE. 25 



one of them, named the Lemur Tardigradus, was pro- 

 cured at Prince of Wales Island by Mr. Baird. He 

 tells us that his eyes shone brightly in the dark, and 

 that he moved his eyelids diagonally, instead of up and 

 down. He had two tongues, one rough like that of a 

 cat, the other narrow and sharp, and both projected at 

 the same time, unless he chose to retain the latter. He 

 generally slept rolled up like a ball, with his arms over 

 his head, taking hold of his cage. He and a dog lived 

 together in the same cage, and a great attachment sub- 

 sisted between them ; but nothing could reconcile him 

 to a cat, which constantly jumped over his back, thereby 

 causing him great annoyance. 



I cannot better close this notice of monkeys than by 

 giving a curious legend which is told in north-western 

 Africa, and which is more uncommon than the belief 

 which is to be found in most countries, that i monkeys 

 can talk if they like, but they won't, for fear white men 

 should make them work.' It was related by the negroes 

 to each other with infinite humour ; the different voices 

 of the characters were assumed, and the gestures and 

 countenance were in accordance with the tale. 



' There was once a big and a strong man, who was 

 a cook, and he married a woman who thought herself 

 very much above him; so she only accepted him on 

 condition that she should never be asked to go into the 

 cook-house (kitchen), but live in a separate dwelling. 

 They were married, and all the house he had for her 

 was the kitchen ; but she did not at first complain, be- 

 cause she was afraid to make her husband unhappy. 

 At last she became so tired of her life, that she began 

 to find fault ; but at first was very gentle. At last she 

 scolded incessantly, and the man, to keep her quiet, told 



