THE MONKEY FAMILY. 



47 



If we cross the Atlantic Ocean to the new 

 world, we shall find no apes there, as I have 

 already stated. But, we shall fall in with a 

 monkey or two, if we can believe the tales of 

 travellers, still more highly gifted by nature ; and 

 even surpassing in useful acquirements, every ape 

 as yet discovered in the extensive tropical regions 

 of the old continent. 



A traveller in Southern America relates, that 

 every morning and evening, the monkeys named 

 ouarines, assemble in the woods ; that one of them 

 takes an elevated station, and gives a signal with 

 his hand, for the others to sit around and listen 

 to him. That, when he perceives them to be all 

 seated, he begins a discourse in a tone so loud 

 and rapid, as to be heard at a great distance. And 

 a person would be led to think, that the whole 

 were crying together that all the rest, however, 

 keep the most profound silence; — that, when he 

 stops, he gives a signal which they obey in a 

 moment ; — that, the first resumes his discourse or 

 song ; — and that, after hearing him attentively for 

 a considerable time, the assembly breaks up. 



This precious morsel of monkey-preaching seems 

 to have been too bulky for our author to swallow ; 

 so he remarks, " that, perhaps these facts may 

 be exaggerated, and seasoned a little with the 



