COCHIN. 
175 
crows flew around, cawing in boisterous chime, as if 
deprecating the chastisement about to be inflicted upon 
their captive companion. The monkey continued for 
a while to chatter and grin in triumphant mockery 
of their distress ; he then deliberately placed the cap- 
tive crow between his knees, and began to pluck it 
with the most humorous gravity. When he had 
completely stripped it, except the large feathers in 
the pinions and tail, he flung it into the air as high 
as his strength would permit, and, after flapping its 
wings for a few seconds, it fell on the ground with a 
stunning shock. The other crows, which had been 
fortunate enough to escape a similar castigation, 
now surrounded it, and immediately pecked it to 
death. 
The expression of joy on the animal’s countenance 
was altogether indescribable ; and he had no sooner 
seen this ample retribution dealt to the purloiner of his 
repast, than he ascended the bamboo to enjoy a quiet 
repose. The next time his food was brought not a 
single crow approached it, and I dare say that, thence- 
forward, he was never again molested by those vora- 
cious intruders. The scene was, in truth, well worth 
witnessing. 
On our way down the coast to Cochin we found the 
country extremely picturesque. The houses of the 
natives were frequently buried amid thick groves of 
palms, mangoes, jacks, and plantains, skirting the 
bottoms of the small hills which here and there dot 
the surface of the landscape. Above them are mag- 
nificent woods of forest-trees perfectly free from rat- 
tans and other climbers, which mar their growth and 
