308 ANIMALS OF THE 



remains on the tree where it was shot, until it 

 drops off by putrefaction. In this manner it is to- 

 tally lost to the pursuer ; for to attempt climbing 

 the tree to bring either it or the young one 

 down, would probably be fatal, from the number 

 of serpents that are hid among the branches. 

 For this reason the sportsman always takes care 

 to aim at the head ; which, if he hits, the mon- 

 key falls directly to the ground, and the young 

 one comes down at the same time, clinging to its 

 dead parent. 



The Europeans along the coasts of Guinea of- 

 ten go into the woods to shoot monkeys ; and no- 

 thing pleases the Negroes more than to see these 

 animals drop, against which they have the great- 

 est animosity. They consider them, and not 

 without reason, as the most mischievous and tor- 

 menting creatures in the world ; and are happy 

 to see their numbers destroyed, upon a double 

 account, as well because they dread their devas- 

 tations, as because they love their flesh. The 

 monkey, which is always skinned before it is 

 eaten, when served up at a Negro feast, looks so 

 like a child, that an European is shocked at the 

 very sight. The natives, however, who are not 

 so nice, devour it as one of the highest delicacies, 

 and assiduously attend our .sportsmen to profit by 

 the spoil. But what they are chiefly astonished at, 

 is to see our travellers carefully taking the young 

 ones alive, while they leave them the old ones, 

 that are certainly the most fit to be eaten. They 

 cannot comprehend what advantage can arise to 

 us from educating or keeping a little animal, that, 



