MONKEYS. 
27 
There is but one animal in all the forest that 
ventures to oppose the monkey, and that is the 
serpent. The larger snakes are often seen winding 
up the trees where the monkeys reside ; and, when 
they happen to surprise them sleeping, swallow 
them whole before the little animals have time to 
make a defence. In this manner, the two most 
mischievous kinds in all nature x keep the whole 
forest between them * and are for ever employed 
in mutual hostilities. The monkeys, in general, 
inhabit the tops 'of the trees, and the serpents cling 
to the branches nearer the bottom ; and in this 
manner they are usually seen near each other, 
like enemies in the same field of battle. Some 
travellers, indeed, have supposed that their vicinity 
rather argued their mutual friendship, and that 
they united in this manner to form an offensive 
league against all the rest of animated nature. 
I have seen these monkeys/’ says Labat, play- 
ing their gambols upon those very branches on 
which the snakes were reposing, and jumping over 
them without receiving any injury, although the 
serpents of that country were naturally vindictive, 
and always ready to bite whatever disturbed them/' 
These gambols, however, were probably nothing 
more than the insults of an enemy that was con- 
scious of its own safety ; and the monkeys might 
have provoked the snake in the same manner as 
we often see sparrows twitter at a cat. However 
this be, the forest is generally divided between 
them ; and these woods, which nature seems to 
have embellished with her richest magnificence, 
rather inspire terror than delight, and chiefly serve 
as retreats for mischief and malignity. 
The enmity of these animals to mankind, is partly 
ridiculous, and partly formidable. They seem, 
says Le Comte, and others, to have a peculiar 
instinct in discovering their foes ; and are per feet- 
