466 QUADRUMANA. 



but pull up all the tiles in search of what has fallen througli the crevices. 

 At this critical juncture the rain commences ; no one can be found to 

 reset the tiles ; the house is deluged, the furniture ruined, and the 

 depositories of grain, generally formed of unbaked earth rubbed over 

 with cow-dung, soaked through, by the falling torrent. 



The celebrated banian tree, called Cubbeer-bur (from the name of a 

 saint), which grows on the banks of the Nerbuddah, and is supposed to 

 be the largest specimen of that tree in India, measuring round the 

 principal stems 2,000 feet in circumference, is tenanted, among other 

 animals, by hosts of Monkeys, and myriads of Snakes. The over- 

 hanging branches of this extraordinary tree cover an astonishing space, 

 like a vast canopy, under which grow custard-apple, and other fruit trees ; 

 and as it is constantly sending forth hanging branches to the ground, to 

 form other trunks, it is continually increasing. Tt has not only sheltered 

 the native chiefs, with their magnificent tents, arranged as saloons, dining 

 and drawing-rooms, baths, chambers, kitchens, &c., together with their 

 carriages, horses, camels, guards and attendants, but has even received 

 an army of 7,000 men beneath its pavilion. 



In this strange wood, the Monkeys, says Mr. Forbes, often diverted 

 him with their antic tricks, and especially with the displays of their 

 parental affection for their young offspring, in teaching them to select 

 food, to exert themselves in jumping from bough to bough, and then 

 in taking more extensive leaps from tree to tree ; at the same time 

 encouraging them by caresses when timorous, and menacing, and even 

 beating them, when refractory. Knowing, by instinct, the malignity of the 

 Snakes, these Monkeys are most vigilant in their destruction ; they seize 

 the reptiles, when asleep, by the neck, and, running to the nearest 

 flat stone, grind down the head by a strong friction on the surface, 

 frequently looking at it, and grinning at their progress. When convinced 

 that the venomous fangs are destroyed, they toss the writhing Snake to 

 their young ones to play with, and seem to rejoice in the destruction of 

 the common enemy. Once, a friend of Mr. Forbes, on a shooting 

 party, killed a female Monkey, under this tree, and carried it to his tent, 

 which was soon surrounded by forty or fifty of the tribe, who made a 

 great noise, and, in a menacing posture, advanced toward it ; on presenting 

 his fowling-piece they hesitated and appeared irresolute. But one, which, 

 from his age and station in the van, seemed to be at the head of the 

 troop, stood his ground, chattering and menacing in a furious manner ; 

 nor could any efforts, less cruel than firing, drive him off. He at length 

 approached the tent-door, and, finding that his threatenings were of no 

 avail, he began a lamentable moaning, and, by every token of grief and 

 supplication, seemed to beg the body of the deceased, which was then 

 given to him. With tender sorrow he took it up in his arms, embraced it 



