THE MALBROUCK, AND 151 



' ty, becaufe it is narrow ; and the people wlio 



* are watching, feize them beiore they can dif- 



* engage ihemfelves. In the provinces of India 



* inhabited by the Bramins, who kill no ani- 

 ' mals, the nunaber of monkeys, which are high- 

 ' ly venerated, is almoft infinite. . They come 

 ' in troops into the cities, and enter the houlcs 



* at all times with perfe£t freedom; fo that ihofc 

 ' who fell provlfions, and particularly fruits, 

 ' pot-herbs, &c. have much difficulty in prefer- 

 ' ving their commodities.' In Amadabad, the 

 capital of Guzarat, there are three hofpitals for 

 animals, where lame and fick monkeys, and even 

 thofe who, without being difeafed, choofe to 

 dwell there, are fed a;id cheriflied. Twice every 

 week, the monkeys in the neighbourhood af- 

 femble fpontaneoufly in the ftrects of the city. 

 They then mount upon the houfcs,each of which 

 has a fmall terrace, or a flat roof, where they lie 

 during the great heats. On ihefe two days, the 

 inhabitants fail not to lay upon thefe terraces 

 lice, millet, fugar canes, and other fruits in their 

 feafon; for, it thefe animals, by any accident, 

 find not their provifions in the accuftomed place, 

 they break the tiles which cover the reft of the 

 houfe, and commit great outr;\;:;cs. Tliey never 

 eat any thing, without thoroughly examining it; 

 and, when full, they fill their cheeTc-piou-ches for 

 another occafion. Ii'i places freojuented ,by thd 

 monkeys, the birds dare not build their, rcils on 



