THE INDIAN MONKEYS. 29

after being carefully painted over with the compound, were
allowed to return to their distressed relatives, who, as soon
as they arrived, gathered round them and commenced licking
them with the greatest assiduity. The results I had anticipated
were not long in making their appearance. A more melan-
choly sight it was impossible to behold; but so efficacious
was this treatment, that for more than two years I hardly
ever saw a monkey in the neighbourhood.”
The Monkey Tavernier was once travelling from Agra to
Aroused. Surat with the English president, when passing
within a few miles of Amenabad through a forest of mangoes,
they experienced the danger of provoking such companies. He
says. “We saw a vast number of very large apes, male and
female, many of the latter having their young in their arms. We
were each of us in our coaches; and the English president
stopped his to tell me that he had a very fine new gun; and
knowing that I was a good marksman, desired me to try it,
by shooting one of the apes. One of my servants, who was
a native of the country, made a sign to me not to do it;
and I did all that was in my power to dissuade the gentle-
man from his design, but to no purpose; for he immediately
levelled his piece, and shot a she ape, who fell through the
branches of the tree on which she was sitting, her young ones
tumbling at the same time out of her arms on the ground.
We presently saw that happen which my servant apprehended;
for all the apes, to the number of sixty, came immediately
down from the trees, and attacked the president’s coach with
such fury that they must infallibly have destroyed him if
all who were present had not flown to his relief, and by
drawing up the windows, and posting all the servants about
the coach, protected him from their resentment.” That
diplomacy is better than war in dealing with bands of mon-~
keys is shown by comparing the results of the foregoing
experiences.