428 HISTOKY OF 



wide, though surely a barren, field to enlarge in ; and they will 

 find it no difficult matter, by observing the various animals of 

 this kind that are from time to time brought from their native 

 coasts to this country, to indulge in description, and to ring the 

 changes upon all the technical terms with which this most pleas- 

 ing science is obscured and rendered disgusting. For my own 

 part, I will spare the reader and myself the trouble of entering 

 into an elaborate description of each ; content with observing 

 once more, that their numbers are very great, and their differ- 

 ences very trifling. There is scarcely a country in the tropical 

 climates that does not swarm with them, and scarcely a forest 

 that is not inhabited by a race of monkeys distinct from all others. 

 Every different wood along the coasts of Africa may be con- 

 sidered as a separate colony of monkeys, differing from those of 

 the next district in colour, in size, and malicious mischief. It 

 is indeed remarkable, that the monkeys of two cantons are never 

 found to mix with each other, but rigorously to observe a separa- 

 tion : each forest produces only its own ; and these guard their 

 limits from the intrusion of all strangers of a different race from 

 themselves. In this they somewhat resemble the human inha- 

 bitants of the savage nations among whom they are found, where 

 the petty kingdoms are numerous, and their manners opposite. 

 There, in the extent of a few miles, the traveller is presented 

 with men speaking different languages, professing different reli- 

 gions, governed by different laws, and only resembling each 

 other in their mutual animosity. 



In general, monkeys of all kinds, being less than the baboon, 

 are endued with less powers of doing mischief. Indeed, the 

 ferocity of their nature seems to diminish with their size ; and 

 when taken wild in the woods, they are sooner tamed, and more 

 easily taught to imitate man, than the former. More gentla 

 than the baboon, and less grave and sullen than the ape, they 

 soon begin to exert all their sportive mimicries, and are easily 

 restrained by correction. But it must be confessed that they 

 will do nothing they are desired without beating ; for, if their 

 fears be entirely removed, they are the most insolent and head- 

 strong animals in nature. 



In their native woods they are not less the pests of man than 

 of other animals. The monkeys, says a traveller,' are in posses- 

 1 Description Historiqiie de Macacar, p. 51. 



