MONKEY. 
153 
with great indifference, and seemed to derive plea- 
sure from our astonishment. Some of them were 
so large, that, if our interpreter had not assured us 
that they were neither ferocious nor dangerous, our 
number would not have appeared to be sufficient 
to protect us from their attacks. As it would serve 
no purpose to kill them, we did not use our guns. 
But the captain happened to aim at a very large 
one which sat on the top of a tree, after having 
fatigued us a long time in pursuing him. This 
kind of menace, however, of which the animal, 
perhaps, recollected his having sometimes seen the 
consequences, terrified him to such a degree that 
he fell down motionless at our feet, and we had 
no difficulty in seizing him. But whenever he re- 
covered from his stupor it required all our dex- 
terity and efforts to keep him. We tied his pats 
together ; but he bit so furiously that we were un- 
der the necessity of covering his head with our 
handkerchiefs.” 
There are not many varieties in the larger tribes 
of the monkey kind : but when we come to the 
smaller class, the differences among them are ex- 
ceedingly increased. Most of the countries in the 
tropical climates swarm with them ; where they take 
possession of the woody parts, and live in separate 
colonies, each of which, we are told, is different 
from that of the next district in colour, in size, and 
malicious mischief. It has been remarked, that the 
monkeys of two cantons are never found to mix 
with each other, but rigorously to observe a sepa- 
