The Macaques tease a crocodile. |
The Macaques are a large family of monkeys that dwell in Asia. They are found all over India and Ceylon, where they are protected as sacred beings. Their name macaque comes from the word macaco, which, on the coast of Guinea, means the same as our English word monkey. They are bright, active, and insolent in the extreme. The natives regard them as sacred, therefore the white man does not dare interfere or beat them off, for fear of raising; the anger of the natives.
These monkeys delight in gathering in large bands, and then seeking out some being to torment. A poor old, sleepy crocodile offers fair sport, and they shout and yell at him. This when the insolent monkeys begin to hurl cocoa-nuts, mud, stones, anything they can lay their hands to, he returns grunting to a quieter part of the river. It has been said that the macaques will hustle dogs away, although a fox-terrier would easily out-match a single macaque.
These monkeys delight in gathering in large bands, and then seeking out some being to torment. A poor old, sleepy crocodile offers fair sport, and they shout and yell at him. This when the insolent monkeys begin to hurl cocoa-nuts, mud, stones, anything they can lay their hands to, he returns grunting to a quieter part of the river. It has been said that the macaques will hustle dogs away, although a fox-terrier would easily out-match a single macaque.