298 



J knew T 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 mon- 

 keys from any other motive than 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 they once were men, but for their 

 " laziness had tails given them, and hair to cover them. Towards 

 " Ceylon they are deified; and at the straits of Balagat they pay 

 " them tribute." 



I cannot omit mentioning one singular employment in which the 

 monkeys of Dhuboy are engaged. I believe among the higher castes 

 of the Hindoos duelling is everywhere unknown, and the lower classes 

 are equally ignorant of the art of boxing; but as even Hindoos do 

 quarrel, though they do not often lose their temper, one principal 

 mode of offence is that of abuse; not by calling a man a rascal or 

 a villain, for that would neither lessen him in his own opinion, 

 nor in that of society; but to abuse his mother, his wife, his sister, 

 or his daughter, would be esteemed the grossest insult, and only 

 to be reconciled by a more abusive retaliation. If that is not ac- 

 complished, it remains a subject for future revenge, which brings 

 me to the point in question respecting the Dhuboy monkeys, who 

 are the innocent agents of this revenge. 



Previous to the commencement of the periodical rains, about 

 the middle of June, it is customary to turn the tiles on the roofs 

 of all the houses in the towns and villages in Hindostan, both of 



