SAMIAN SAGACITY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 782, 13 April 1877, Page 3

SAMIAN SAGACITY.

The sagacious monkey who according to the time-honored story used the reluctant piw of a cat to withdraw hot chestnuts from the tire is outdone by the performance of another member of this tribe which is recounted by a French Les Mondes. The writer is the possessor of a large coffeo plantation, and the crops have suffered severely from the ravages of a large species of baboon which greedily devours the fruit of a small tree which grows among the bushes. The best safeguards against their depredations are the wasps which make their nests in the lower parts of these trees; for of the tierce attacks and painful stings of these insects the baboon has a wholesome fear. One morning a hideous chorus of yells and howls was heard from a portion of the plantation where the wasps had most thickly congregated, and where the fruit trees consequently were heavily laden. On searching f>r the cause the writer saw from afar a venerable and ancient baboon busily engaged in throwing infant monkeys at the trees. These living projectiles thus knocked down the nests, and of course were the objects of the infuriated occupants. Meanwhile the baboon quietly made his way to the upper branches, gorged himself, and then added insult to injury to +hc badly-stung monkeys by pelting them with the rinds and pips of Iris repast.