26 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

endless source of amusement and not unfrequently one of
annoyance. In their free state, they tax the ingenuity of
native and European alike by their mischievous habits and
thievish propensities. They climb upon the tops of the
Bazaars and the slightest relapse from vigilance on the part of
the shopkeepers is sure to be followed by the loss or spoliation
of their wares. A common defence against these unwelcome
intruders is to cover the roofs with a certain prickly shrub,
the thorns of which command respect even from monkeys.
Mrs. Bowdich says: “In some places they are even fed,
encouraged, and allowed to live on the roofs of houses; ”
but this would be where the goods of the householder were
beyond their reach. “If a man wishes to revenge himself
for any injury committed upon him,” says Mrs. Bowdich,
“he has only to sprinkle some rice or corn upon the top
of his enemy’s house or granary just before the rain sets in,
and the monkeys will assemble upon it, eat all they can
find outside, and then pull off the tiles to get at that which
has fallen through the crevices. This, of course, gives
access to the torrents which fall in such countries, and
house, furniture and stores are all ruined.” Quoting from
another writer, Mrs. Bowdich gives an amusing description
of the way in which one of these monkeys watched his
opportunity for making his descent upon a sweet-stuff shop.
Taking up a position opposite the shop, “he pretended to be
asleep, but every now and then softly raised his head to
look at the tempting piles and the owner of them, who sat
smoking his pipe without symptoms even of a doze. In
half an hour the monkey got up, as if he were just awake,
yawned, stretched himself, and took another position a few
yards off, where he pretended to play with his tail, occa-
sionally looking over his shoulder at the coveted delicacies. ,
At length the shopman gave signs of activity, and the
monkey was on the alert; the man went to his back room,
the monkey cleared the street at one bound, and in an