THE FOUR-FINGERED MONKEY. 



An affecting scene in Surinam. 



banks are very steep, by the same expedient ; 

 and though this assertion is doubted by Stedman, 

 it is confirmed by Dampier and Acosta. 



Captain Stedman being among the woods of 

 Surinam, and in want of fresh provisions, shot at 

 two of these animals with the intention of mak- 

 ing broth of them; but, he observes, the destruc- 

 tion of one of them was attended with such cir- 

 cumstances as almost ever after deterred him 

 from going a monkey hunting. 



ce Seeing me nearly on the bank of the river 

 in the canoe," says our author, <c the creature 

 made a halt from skipping after his companions, 

 and being perched on a branch that hung over 

 the water, examined me with attention, and the 

 strongest marks of curiosity ; no doubt taking me 

 for a giant of his own species : while he chattered 

 prodigiously, and kept dancing and shaking the 

 bough on which he rested with incredible strength 

 and agility. At this time I laid my piece to my 

 shoulder, and brought him down from the tree 

 into the stream; but may I never again be wit- 

 ness of such a scene ! The miserable animal was 

 not dead, but mortally wounded. 1 seized him 

 by the tail, and taking him in both my hands, to 

 end his torment, swung him round, and hit his 

 head against the side of the canoe; but the poor 

 creature still continued alive, and looking at me 

 in the most affecting manner that can be con- 

 ceived, I knew no other means of ending his 

 murder, than to hold him under the water till he 



