THE CINGALESE MONKEY. 



Simple mode of taking monkeys: 



thieving, that, not contented with the exuberant 

 supply afforded by their native woods, they fre- 

 quently steal from houses, gardens, or orchards 

 whatever they are able to carry away. When 

 any of them perceive a child with bread or fruit 

 in its hand, they immediately run up, frighten it, 

 and take away its food. And if they happen to 

 see an Indian woman drying grain in the sun, 

 some of them skip round and pretend to steal ; 

 and the moment she runs to strike them, the 

 others, watching their opportunity, seize the grain 

 and carry it ofT. 



The extreme cunning of these quadrupeds 

 renders it almost impossible to take them in 

 traps; yet M. D'Obsonville informs us that he 

 has seen them caught by a very simple contri- 

 vance. The man employed, chose a place neap 

 their haunts, and fastened a copper vessel, with 

 a mouth about two inches in diameter, to the 

 foot of a tree; then, after scattering some grains, 

 removed to a distance. These were soon de- 

 voured, and he brought more. The third time 

 he was more bountiful of his grain, especially 

 around and within the pot, in which were placed 

 five or six running knots, crossing each other in 

 different directions. He had scarcely hidden 

 himself before several monkeys and their young 

 ran to try who should get first. They had soon 

 emptied the vessel, but their hands were caught. 

 The man approached before they had time to li-, 



