TABLE MANNERS 1 83 



not abashed in the presence of so many guests. He was 

 served with such things as were best suited to his liking, 

 and his demeanor was such as to amuse all present. On 

 the proposal of a toast all the guests beat with their hands 

 upon the table, and in this the chimpanzee joined with 

 apparent pleasure. After a few rounds of this kind, one of 

 the guests occupying the seat next to the chimpanzee failed 

 to respond with the usual beating ; the chimpanzee observed 

 the fact, turned upon the guest, and began to claw, scream, 

 and pound him on the back and arm until the gentleman 

 proceeded to beat ; whereupon the ape resumed his place 

 and joined in the applause. On this occasion he acquitted 

 himself with credit ; but an hour later he had fallen into 

 disgrace by drinking beer until he was actually drunk, 

 when he awkwardly climbed off the chair, crawled under 

 the table, and went to sleep. 



One of the clerks in the employ of the consul had a fair 

 specimen of this species. It was a female, perhaps two 

 years younger than the one just described, but equally 

 addicted to the habit of drinking beer. It is the custom 

 among people on the coast to offer to a guest something to 

 drink, and on these occasions this young lady ape always 

 expected to partake with the others. If she was over- 

 looked in pouring out the beer, she always set up a com- 

 plaint until she got her glass. If it was not given to her, 

 she would go from one to another, holding out her hand and 

 begging for a drink. If she failed to secure it, she watched 

 her opportunity, and while the guest was not looking 

 would stealthily reach up, take his glass off the table, drink 

 the contents, and return the glass to its place. She would 



