THE MONKEY KIND. 115 



cantons never mix with each other, but rigoroufly obferve a reparation, 

 and guard their limits from the intrufion of ftrangers. Neither the 

 tiger nor the lion will venture to difpute their dominion, fince they, 

 from the tops of trees, continually carry on an offenfive war, and by 

 their agility efcape purfuit. The ferpent is their chief deflroyer, and is 

 often feen winding up the trees where they refide, and if it happen to 

 furprife them fleeping, fwallows them before the little animals have time 

 for defence. The monkies in general inhabit the tops of trees i the 

 ferpents, branches nearer the bottom. 



To the Negroes they are their greatefl: plague, and do incredible da- 

 mage, plundering pretty much like the baboons ^ are not contented 

 with the firft blade of corn, or the firlt cane, but pull up the moft allur- 

 ing, turn it round, examine, compare it with others, and if they find it 

 to their mind, flick it under one of their arms. 



They generally keep in companies, march in order, and obey the 

 voice of feme chieftain, remarkable for his fize and gravity. One fpe- 

 cies, which Mr. BufFon calls, the Ouarine, is remarkable for loudnefs 

 and difl:in(5tnefs of voice, fbill more for their ufe of ic. " I have fre- 

 quently been a witnefs," fays Margrave, " of their affemblies. Every 

 day, morning and evening, the ouarines alTemble in the woods. When 

 all come together, one among the number takes the highcft place on a 

 tree, and makes a fignal with his hand to the reft to fic round, in order 

 to hearken. As foon as he fees them placed, he begins his difcourfe, 

 with fo loud a voice, and yet in a m.anner fo precipitate, that to hear 

 him at a diftance, one would think the whole company were crying out 

 at the fame time : however, during that time, one only is fpeaking, and 

 the reft obferve the moft profound filence. When this has done, he 

 makes a fign with the hand for the reft to reply -, and at that inftant they 

 raife their voices together, until by another fignal of the hand they are 

 enjoined filence. This they as readily obey ; till, at laft, the whole af- 

 fembly breaks up, after hearing a repetition of the fame preachment." 



The chief food of the monkey- tribe is fruits, buds of trees, fucculent 

 roots and plants ; are fond of fweets, particularly the plealant juice of 

 the palm-tree and the fugar-cane. In neceflity, eat infefts and worms ; 

 if near the coafts, oyfters, crabs, and ftiell-fifti. Catch oyfttrs by clap- 

 ping a ftone between the opening fiiells ■ draw crabs from the water, by 

 putting their tail to the crabs' hole, the crabs faftening on ii,- they draw 

 them on (hore with a jerk. The monkey brings one at a time, fome- 

 times two. 



No. 24. X Father 



