MONKEYS. 117 



phant was saved, and landed about six miles down 

 the river without the howdah, or any of the tack- 

 ling. It being well known that all Hindoos have a 

 religious veneration for these animals, European 

 ought never to injure them humanity also dic- 

 tates it, as the following circumstance, which hap- 

 pened to myself, fully shews. 



I was one of a party at Teekarry, in the Bahar 

 district ; our tents were pitched in a large mango 

 garden, and our horses were piquetted in the same 

 garden, at a little distance off. When we were 

 at dinner, a Syce came to us, complaining that 

 some of the horses had broken loose, in conse- 

 quence of being frightened by monkeys on the 

 trees, and that, with their chattering and breaking 

 off the dry branches in leaping about, the rest' 

 would also get loose if they were not driven away. 

 As soon as dinner was over, I went out with my 

 gun to drive them off, and I fired with small shot 

 at one of them, which instantly ran down to the 

 lowest branch of the tree, as if he were going to 

 fly at me, stopped suddenly, and coolly put its paw 

 to the part wounded, covered with blood, and held 

 it out for me to see ; I was so much hurt at the 

 time, that it has left an impression never to be 

 effaced, and I have never since fired a gun at any 



