SIMIAD^E. 465 



had more the appearance of a rural village than a fortified city. Near 

 the durbar was a small woody island, affording a nightly roost for Cranes, 

 Kites, and Crows ; and shelter for a number of those immense Bats, not 

 improperly called flying Foxes. To finish this picturesque scene, a 

 ruined Hindoo temple, nearly covered with moss and clematis, in great 

 variety, terminated the terrace -walk in the garden, where the animal 

 creation had hitherto been so unmolested that the orange and lime trees 

 were filled with Peacocks, Doves, and Bulbuls ; Monkeys and Squirrels 

 feasted on the pomegranates and custard-apples ; while Pelicans, Spoon- 

 bills, and other aquatic birds occupied the lake. " The intrusion of the 

 Monkeys, " adds the narrator, " I could have dispensed with ; their 

 numbers were often formidable, and their depredations serious. I 

 believe there were as many Monkeys as human inhabitants in Dhuboy ; 

 the roofs and upper parts of the houses seemed entirely appropriated to 

 their accommodation. While the durbar was repairing, on my first arrival, 

 I resided a short time in one of the public streets : the back of the house 

 was separated by a narrow court from that of a principal Hindoo. This 

 being the shady side, I generally retired during the heat of the afternoon, 

 to a veranda, and reposed on a sofa with my book ; small pieces of mortar 

 and tiles frequently fell about me, to which, supposing them to be occa- 

 sioned by an eddy of wind, I paid no attention ; until one day, when I 

 was much annoyed by their repetition, accompanied by an uncommon 

 noise, and a blow from a larger piece of tile than usual, I arose to 

 discover the cause ; and, to my astonishment, saw the opposite roof 

 covered with Monkeys, employed in assaulting the white stranger who 

 had unwittingly offended, by intruding upon their domain. Although 

 my new situation invested me with considerable power, and made me the 

 first man in the city, yet, as I knew I could neither make reprisals, nor 

 expect quarter from the enemy, I judged it most prudent to abandon my 

 lodging, and secure a retreat. I do not imagine the inhabitants of Dhuboy 

 protect the Monkeys from any other motive than that of humanity to the 

 brute creation, and their general belief in the metempsychosis ; but, in 

 Malabar, and several other parts of India, Dr. Fryer's assertion is very 

 true that, to kill one of these Apes, the natives hold " piacular," calling 

 them half -men, and saying that they once were men, but, for their 

 laziness, had tails given them, and hair to cover them. Toward Ceylon 

 they are deified, and at the Straits of Balagat they pay them tribute." In 

 Dhuboy, according to the same author, if a man wish to revenge 

 himself on his neighbour, for any insult or injury, he takes the opportu- 

 nity, just before the periodical rains (about the middle of June) set in, 

 and when the tiles have been adjusted to meet that season, of repairing to 

 his neighbour's roof, and scattering over it a quantity of rice, or other 

 grain : this is soon discovered by the Monkeys, who not only devour it, 



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