NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Curious combat Instance of revenge. 



apes, perceiving no person near the baskets, 

 soon descend in great numbers from the trees, 

 and run towards them. They grin at each other 

 before they venture to approach; sometimes ad- 

 vancing, then retreating, as if reluctant to en- 

 counter. At length the females, which are more 

 courageous than the males, especially those that 

 have young ones^ venture to approach the bas- 

 kets, and as they are about to thrust their heads 

 in to eat, the males on the one side advance to 

 hinder them. Immediately the other party comes 

 forward, and the feud being kindled on both 

 sides, the combatants seize the cudgels, and a 

 most severe engagement ensues, which always 

 ends with the weakest being; driven into the 



O 



woods with broken heads and limbs. The vic- 

 tors then fall to in peace, and devour the reward 

 of their labour. 



The same traveller remarks, that as he was once 

 travelling in the East Indies, in company with 

 the English president, a great number of large 

 apes were observed upon the trees around them. 

 The president was so much amused, that he or- 

 dered his carriage to stop, and desired Tavernier 

 to shoot one of them. The attendants, who 

 were principally natives, and well acquainted 

 with the manners of these animals, begged him 

 to desist, lest those that escaped might do them 

 some injury in revenge for the death of a compa- 

 nion. Being, however, still requested, he killed 

 a female, which fell among the branches, letting 



