Pictures of life in Mexico/Volume 2/Chapter 34
CHAPTER XXXIV.
A MONKEY ANECDOTE.
Many a comical story might be told of the monkeys who cling and flutter, like uncouth birds, round the forest trees in the tierra caliente of Mexico. Their sociality is amusing; for they are generally to be seen in compact tribes or gangs: and very good-humouredly they seem to affect each other's society. The tricks they play upon other animals or on one another,—cheating the harmless denizens of the forest of their food and habitations; pilfering the birds' eggs from their nests; leaping upon the backs of wondering cattle, tenaciously holding on to their elevated seats, and pelting and bespattering" one another with nuts and bursting fruits—are extreme droll and cunning; and their grimaces; whether in tricksiness or anger,—screaming and muttering as though much depended on their eloquence—are irresistibly ludicrous. When hungry their over-reaching habits and quarrels, over a discovery of food—each feeling greater pleasure in abstracting the store of his neighbour than in consuming of his own are incessant.
They are in the habit of shaking-fruit or nuts from unapproachable boughs and hurling at each other when on inaccessible elevations; and their treatment of the sick and incapable is barbarously comical; while their method of settling disputes among themselves is most summary and decisive. They often form themselves into a kind of ladder or chain and suspended from trees sway themselves backwards and forwards till they have crossed a stream by swinging the other end of this chain bridge of monkeys on to a tree on the opposite bank.
One night a monkey belonging to a large tribe occupying the trees around, had been so teased by the musquitoes as to be unable for several hours, to enjoy his usual repose.Losing his patience at length, he gave up the attempt to sleep in despair and determined to destroy as many of his enemies as possible in revenge; yet the musquitoes continued to buzz about and feed upon him and the greater number he killed the more was his anger excited. After being employed some hours in this manner by break of day very few of his adversaries remained; and in exultation over his victory, he made a hasty caper, lost his balance, and fell from the tree upon which he had been attempting to sleep.
When he reached the ground, he saw the glittering eyes of a large snake fixed intently upon him, as he lay half coiled round some loose rocks and stones, with the first rays of the coming light shining brightly on his black, white and crimson scales. The snake had been looking out in a longing manner for his morning's meal, and the poor monkey had arrived within his reach most opportunely. He pounced upon him, and though the monkey was almost as large as himself, he quickly crushed him between his folds, anointed him from head to foot with his slime; and finally swallowed him, in a leisurely and self-satisfied manner.This process had been observed with great indignation by the monkeys up in the trees and no sooner had the serpent despatched his breakfast than a sputtering consultation appeared to be held amongst them; it ended in their unanimously descending to the ground at a safe distance from the snake and collecting together as many loose fragments of rock and branches of trees as possible. Armed with these missiles they approached their enemy as nearly as they dared and hurled them with great violence and effect at his head and body; the snake after making an ineffectual attempt to seize upon the foremost, at last turned about quickly and retreated into his hole—a miniature cavern of rock, situated beneath the sleeping apartments of the monkeys.
The outraged community appeared determined to avenge the slaughter of their companion, but knew not how it was to be done. Their enemy seemed retired beyond reach, and with the best will in the world to follow him and brave it out, the attempt to enter his den would be certain destruction. After a renewed debate, and much chattering and leaping about, a few of the leaders armed themselves with clubs and sticks of a still larger size from the loose wood abounding in the forest. With these weapons they once more approached the rocky projection still keeping a respectful distance from the entrance and began to beat upon the stones on the surface, with the intention of frightening the serpent from his hiding-place. They ran to and fro screeching, making the wood resound with their blows; threw stones into the mouth of the hole; but all would not do: the more energetic the means adopted, the firmer seemed the resolve of the besieged to remain in garrison.
At length, with a degree of sagacity almost incredible in "the inferior animals," but not by any means remarkable in monkeys, their tactics underwent a change. A monkey of large size and peculiarly knowing physiognomy, separated himself from his companions, and placed his body in an unconscious and inviting manner in front of the hollow, at the space of a few yards from the entrance. His comrades meanwhile retreated to a little distance, and awaited the issue of the manœuvre which was to tempt their adversary from his quarters. The position of the adventurer seemed a perilous one; but, despite his apparent unconcern, he kept a sharp eye upon the den, and was ready to make a nimble retreat when his purpose should be effected. In this posture all parties remained for some time; the monkeys maintaining a profound silence, and the hissing noise being kept up incessantly within the cave—yet no forked tongue or shining eyes could be tempted to reveal themselves. Then the venturous animal rose from his unassuming attitude and came yet nearer to the hollow, shrieking and leaping this time, to attract the attention of the recluse; the hissing continued, but still the retired monster kept close within his lair.
The determination of the invaders, nevertheless, appeared only more excited by their want of success; and to draw out the despoiler from his den, with safety to themselves, was a task well suited to their meddlesome and vivacious dispositions; so, as a last resource, they summoned their whole forces—claiming the assistance of their friends and neighbours, who had by this time assembled from all quarters—to eject him in the most summary manner. They nimbly, but with the utmost caution removed all the outside stones and pieces of rock one by one bringing their united strength to lift the more weighty fragments till all were cleared away; the projecting rock was not a large one, but much remained to be done. They broke away the loose pieces about the entrance, so that the avenue was considerably widened they then collected fragments of rock to assist them in breaking off others; the aperture grew wider, and at last they began to discern the brilliant coils and shining eyes of the serpent at the extremity of the den. Hurling some stones, violently against him, they succeeded in forcing him from his retreat in a rage; and he was no sooner fully exposed to view, than a hundred stones and pieces of rock of a large size were dashed upon him; he wavered for one moment in the attempt to return, and in the next, his head was so crushed and beaten in as to render him utterly helpless and at their mercy. They then despatched him amid loud screams of exultation; appearing to take a great delight in seeing him quiver beneath them, and in imprinting their paws upon his beautiful skin from time to time.
"My only wonder was," added the narrator of the anecdote, "that they did not carry out the joke by lighting a fire, broiling him over it, and making a joyous repast upon the remains of their recent enemy."