od," I said. "Remember
our stock of provisions is but small, and if we were to be
over-particular, we should starve." The monkey, however, by his
intervention escaped.

We went on for some time, gradually entering a denser part of the forest
than we had yet reached. Sipos hung down from every bough, forming a
curious tracery of living cordage above our heads, and more completely
uniting the tall trees than even the masts of a ship are by the rigging,
so that an active midshipman, or a still more agile monkey--I hope the
former will pardon me for mentioning them together--could have no
difficulty in progressing high up from the ground for miles together
through the forest. Strange air-plants swung suspended from the
branches, some like the crowns of huge pine-apples, others like parasols
with fringes, or Chinese umbrellas--indeed, of all shapes and hues;
while climbing plants of the most diverse and ornamental foliage
possible wound their way upwards, and then formed graceful and elegant
festoons, yet further to adorn this mighty sylvan palace. Such a scene,
though often witnessed, seemed fresh and beautiful as at first. As I
wished to get another shot or two, we crept slowly on, concealing
ourselves as much as possible, lest any birds perched on the boughs
might see us and fly away. There was little difficulty in doing so
amongst the huge fern and palm-like foliage which surrounded us. In a
short time we heard ahead of us a strange chattering and rustling in the
trees, and moving cautiously on, we caught sight of a number of dark
objects moving about at a rapid rate among the sipos. Stealing
cautiously forward, we discovered them to be monkeys at their gambols;
and curious gambols they were too. They had white faces, with black
coats and thin bodies and limbs, and still longer tails, which kept
whisking and twirling and whirling about in the most extraordinary
style. Not for a moment were these tails of theirs at rest, except when
they had hold of branches to allow their other limbs more freedom. I
did not suppose that such muscular power could have existed in an
animal's tail. They seemed to be playing each other all sorts of
comical tricks. Now one would catch hold of a horizontal sipo, and
swing vehemently backwards and forwards; now two or three would scramble
up a perpendicular one, and a fourth would catch hold of the tail of the
last and hang by it, whisking about his own tail meantime till it had