Frightening the Monkeys – Troubles in Africa With Monkeys

1878

The inhabitants of Kabylia, Northern Africa, are much troubled by the depredations of monkeys, who in countless numbers infest the hilly forests. The unfortunate farmers or market gardeners who live on the mountain slopes wage a continual war against these marauders, which is foredoomed, however, to endless failure; for the inhabitants were Darwinites long before Mr. Darwin was heard of; and they dare not for their life kill one of the creatures regarded by them as their ancestors.

So the monkeys increase and multiply without the chance of becoming thinned off by any fatal battue. The only thing that can be done to guard against their attacks is to frighten them away, and this is effected by some very cunning and curious devices. It is found that occasionally, after a successful raid upon some garden, a few of the less hardened offenders are overcome by the plenteousness of their feast.

The potent juice of the grapes or of the figs gets the better of their reason or of their bodily activity, and they remain stretched on the ground, to be captured by the furious proprietor, when a mild but insidious punishment is inflicted upon the prisoners. Their necks are hung with small bells or rattles, and they are turned loose at the forest edge, when the panic created by their appearance is such as to frighten all their kinsfolk and acquaintances away into the depths of the wood. If bells cannot be procured another process has been invented — that of clothing the captured ape in a stout waistcoat of red stuff and then letting him run.

The effect is magical, and long after the ostracized animal has died or got free from his slavish badge the depredators hold aloof from the dangerous district.