50 



A NEW HISTORY OF 



ments in their hands, and then threw them at his 

 head." 



It is difficult to comprehend how this expert 

 traveller managed to approach so near to these 

 wary animals, with no intervening ohject betwixt 

 himself and them, so that they could have a 

 distinct view of him, and take their aim accord- 

 ingly. 



Still, by far, the most extraordinary feat of 

 Western monkeys, remains yet to be told. But, I 

 can fancy, courteous reader, that thy patience is 

 nearly exhausted. One dose more ; though it 

 be much stronger than any I have as yet offered to 

 thy gullet. " Majus parabo, majus infundam tibi 

 fastidienti poculum." 



We are gravely told, that certain transatlantic 

 monkeys are adepts in the healing art. " What is 

 singular, as soon as one is wounded, the rest collect 

 about him, and put their fingers into the wound, as 

 if they meant to sound it ; and when much blood 

 is discharged, some of them keep the wound shut, 

 whilst others make a mash of leaves, and dexter- 

 ously stop up the aperture.'' " This operation," 

 continues the traveller, "I have often observed 

 with admiration." 



By the shade of Hippocrates, these monkey- 

 surgeons puzzle me outright. Nevertheless, our 



