26 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE. 



endless source of amusement and not unfrequently one of 

 annoyance. In their free state, they tax the ingenuity of 

 native and European alike by their mischievous habits and 

 thievish propensities. They climb upon the tops of the 

 Bazaars and the slightest relapse from vigilance on the part of 

 the shopkeepers is sure to be followed by the loss or spoliation 

 of their wares. A common defence against these unwelcome 

 intruders is to cover the roofs with a certain prickly shrub, 

 the thorns of which command respect even from monkeys. 

 Mrs. Bowdich says: "In some places they are even fed, 

 encouraged, and allowed to live on the roofs of houses ; " 

 but this would be where the goods of the householder were 

 beyond their reach. " If a man wishes to revenge himself 

 for any injury committed upon him," says Mrs. Bowdich, 

 "he has only to sprinkle some rice or com upon the top 

 of his enemy's house or granary just before the rain sets in, 

 and the monkeys will assemble upon it, eat all they can 

 find outside, and then pull oflf the tiles to get at that which 

 has fallen through the crevices. This, of course, gives 

 access to the torrents which fall in such countries, and 

 house, furniture and stores are all ruined." Quoting from 

 another writer, Mrs. Bowdich gives an amusing description 

 of the way in which one of these monkeys watched his 

 opportunity for making his descent upon a sweet-stuff shop. 

 Taking up a position opposite the shop, "he pretended to be 

 asleep, but every now and then softly raised his head to 

 look at the tempting piles and the owner of them, who sat 

 smoking his pipe without symptoms even of a doze. In 

 half an hour the monkey got up, as if he were just awake, 

 yawned, stretched himself, and took another position a few 

 yards off, where he pretended to play with his tail, occa- 

 sionally looking over his shoulder at the coveted delicacies. 

 At length th? shopman gave signs of activity, and the 

 monkey was on the alert; the man went to his back room, 

 the monkey cleared the street at one bound, and in an 



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