48 THE INLAND SEA REVISITED. 



accommodating as tlie inhalDitants of this place, is seen 

 in a slight variation from the general Japanese type 

 in some of the little urchins who play about in the 

 shallow water, and on the white sandy beach. It is 

 curious that, so far, the children born from Japanese 

 and European parents seldom live to their sixth year. 



I was strongly urged to go well armed when I went 

 into the woods. 



"Why?" I asked my informant, the captain of the 

 French gunboat. 



" Ah, my very good friend," he answered, " you do 

 not know, you have not seen the monkeys. Mon Dieu ! 

 such very gros monkeys — so big as me — as myself — 

 quite, I assure you. I am most afraid, fearful of my 

 life ; therefore, for protection to my person, I do always 

 go accompanied by des marins, armed with le chassepot 

 and the cutlass." 



I often came across families of these apes. The old 

 patriarchs of the community were about the size of my 

 Irish retriever, — grey, grizzly-looking fellows, who 

 never hurried themselves when suddenly come upon, 

 but very leisurely walked off, seeing their wives and 

 children well ahead before they thought of moving. 

 From never being molested by the natives, doubtless 

 they consider themselves quite safe. It is the only 



