148 . THE MONKEY. 



to decrease with its size ; for, when taken wild in the 

 woods, they are easily tamed, though they must fre- 

 quently he corrected before they are subdued. 



The Negroes consider monkeys as an absolute pest, 

 for they do infinite damage to their fields of Indian 

 corn, and are no less destructive to their sugar- 

 canes and rice. Their method of plundering resembles 

 that which is practised by the baboons ; and they have 

 a sentinel to give notice if an enemy appears in sight, 

 upon which they instantly throw down greatest part 

 of their load, and only retain as much as they can 

 keep in their left hand, and scamper quickly away 

 upon the three supporters which remain. 



The Europeans, along the coast of Guinea, fre- 

 quently derive amusement from shooting these little 

 animals in the woods, for they have so completely the 

 power of annoying travellers, by throwing dirt at 

 them, and dry branches of trees, that self-defence 

 compels them to decrease the number of this insigni- 

 jicunt yet tormenting little tribe. 



Were we to pay implicit confidence to what some 

 travellers assert respecting the government, politics, 

 and subordination that is preserved amongst these ani- 

 mals, we might either be taxed with credulity or ex- 

 aggeration ; but we can possitively assert, that they 

 are under some regular kind of discipline, and that one, 

 exerts a commanding authority over the rest. 



The general food of this sagacious tribe is fruit, the 

 buds of trees, or succulent roots and plants ; and the\ 

 arc particularly fond of the sugar-cane and palm-tree'> 

 juice. Their method of managing an oyster is curious 

 and entertaining, and has been too well attested to 

 admit of a doubt. The moment these cunning little 

 animals perceive the shells of the oyster extended, they 



1 



