356 * JAVA PONIES. 



none (excepting the pine-apple) attain ex- 

 cellence. 



The little Java ponies excited my attention, 

 but these beautiful animals cannot endure much 

 fatigue ; they are purchased from thirty to one hun- 

 dred and fifty Java rupees each ; and if exported 

 there is an export duty of nearly two pounds each : 

 the residents are obliged to keep several of these 

 animals, as there are always some incapable of 

 duty from sickness. The Javanese consider 

 that by keeping a species of monkey in the 

 stable, the horses will not get sick, and should 

 they become indisposed, Jacko possesses powers 

 to cure them ; the more valuable the monkey 

 employed for the purpose, the more readily will 

 the horses be cured, or the better will they be 

 preserved in health. The Lampong monkey 

 (brought from the Lampong Islands) is highly 

 esteemed for this purpose by the superstitious 

 Javanese for its qualities as a veterinary doctor. 



A lad at one residence, who had charge of 

 the horses, threatened to leave his master's ser- 

 vice, on some of the horses getting sick, unless 

 a monkey was procured for the stable ; one of the 

 Lampong kind was consequently purchased to 

 attend upon the sick quadrupeds. Soon after 

 the monkey had been in attendance, the sick 

 horses began to recover, and in a short time 

 w^ere declared fit for duty ; thus proving (what- 



