38 THE APE. 



ever imitate human actions but with a mischievous 

 intention. — Neither the Lion, the Tiger, nor any 

 of the feUne race, are the most formidable enemies to 

 the Monkies : their dominion in the forests is not 

 disputed by any of these ferocious animals, from 

 whom they easily escape by their nimblcnessin run- 

 ning up the trees. The Serpent tribes alone, which 

 reside with them in the trees, are endowed with the 

 arr of surprizing them during their repose ; and per- 

 petual war is sustained between these two races*. 

 Conscious, however, of their own activity and safety 

 when awake, Labat says, he has seen in Africa " Mon;~ 

 kies playing their gambols on the very branches 

 where Snakes where reposing ; and jumping over 

 them backwards and forwards, although the Ser- 

 pents of tliis country are naturally vindictive, and 

 always ready to bite any thing that disturbs 

 them •^." 



In many parts of India the animals of the Ape 

 tribe are made objects of worship by the natives, 

 and temples of the greatest magnificence are erected 

 in honor of them :}:. Their numbers are almost in- 

 finite. They frequently come in troops into the 

 cities, and they enter the houses at all times with 

 perfect freedom ; in Calicut, however, the inhabi- 

 tants keep them in a great measure out of their 

 dwelhngS; but to effect this they are compelled to 

 have all their windows latticed. In Amadabad, 

 the capttal of Guzarat, there are three hospitals for 



Buffon's Quad. viii. 152.— t Relat. del'Afiiq. Occukut. p,Sl7- 

 t Feuu. Quad. L 172. 



