MONKEY. 
155 
struction of one of them was attended with cir- 
cumstances which made a lasting impression on 
his mind. ce Seeing me/’ says the captain, (i nearly 
on the bank of the river in a canoe, the creature 
made a halt from skipping after his companions, 
and, being perched on a branch that hung over the 
water, examined me with attention and the strong- 
est marks of curiosity, no doubt taking me for a 
giant of his own species ; while he chattered pro- 
digiously, and kept dancing and shaking the bow 
on which he rested with incredible strength and 
agility. At this time I laid my piece to my 
shoulder, and brought him down from the tree into 
the stream ; but may I never again be witness to 
such a scene ! The miserable animal was not dead, 
but mortally wounded. I seized him by the tail, 
and, taking him in both my hands, to end his tor- 
ment swung him round, and hit his head against 
the side of the canoe ; but the poor creature still 
continuing alive, and looking at me in the most af- 
fecting manner that can be conceived, I knew no 
other means of ending his murder, than to hold 
him under the water till he was drowned, while my 
heart sickened on his account ; for his dying little 
eyes still continued to follow me with seeming re- 
proach, till their light gradually forsook them, and 
the wretched animal expired. I felt so much on 
this occasion, that I could neither taste of him nor 
his companions, when they were dressed, though I 
saw that they afforded to some others a delicious 
repast.” 
