IN MONKEY LAND.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12727, 20 December 1909, Page 4

IN MONKEY LAND.

•— — ' I A correspondent of the "Natal Witness" rebates an uncommon experience he had. some years ago at Umgeni, a suburb of Durban, at the pretty house, high up among tho trees, where Mr Bradley at that time superintended the manufacture of bricks. He writes : —

We were most hospitably treated/ and rested ourselves in long chairs, while the soda srizzed in the glasses, and one of us persuaded Mrs Bradley to call the monkeys out of the bush for our entertainment, When all was '.' ready Mrs Bradley -and her little girl , took a basket of ffuit and went out 7 to the lawn and sat dowii. Obedient to instructions, we crouched in cover, and Mrs' Bradley commenced cal'.ing. | "Monkeys, monkeys," she called, ' in a .high monotone". The tree to my right rustled, and a big monkey pushed -aside a branch to reconnoitre. A moment afterwards, a tiny bold beast galloped Out "of the undergrowth, and. went up to be. fed. The example had an instantaneous effect, the bush swarmed with lithe,, furry life, and a > vanguard drew cautiously into the open. Mrs Bradley called again, and the monkeys, satisfied that all was well, trooped out in numbers.. They squatted amicably round the lady and" the child, and begged, stole, and

snatched sections of banana. They reminded tup irr-n'r.ibly of the shamesless Neap*....—. aroni"— they are such brazen, yet irresistible mendicants.

One was an ancient roguo, of considerable size and inconceivable impudence. Ho had lost a hand somehow, but managed to purloin more than his share of the fruit with none the less adroitness. With him came a giant and muscular consort, to whose lean belly clung a squealing and turbulent baby. Big monkeys, little ones, fat ones, skinny ones, nice ones, rude ones, jostled each other in a crowd, and took food as of right from the hands of the two humans. The little girl treated with them as with dolls, and the monkeys treated her with startling familiarity. One, tapped on the head for another's sins, protested almost humanly, and while reparation was being made the others plundered desperately. Finally/the bananas were at aii end, ■anid Mrs Bradley rose. "That's aill,"'sho said, to the congregation. "Go away." ' "Not much," returned the congregation, as plainly as gestures could speak. Then they saw us and fled. Mr Bradley didn't think very muoh of it.' "They li'ang round, so," 3ie complained; "they -behave as if the place ! belonged to them. If you leave a winjdow open at _ night, they waltz iii and 1 take possession. '^