Page:Neuroomia.djvu/25

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A NEW CONTINENT.
13

ing down towards the water, near where I sat. Like all the animals and birds we had hitherto seen in this new land, they did not take the least notice of me. They stood on the bank and chattered for some time, and I could plainly see that they were on the same errand as myself, and intended to cross the river by the branches. After looking intently at a large tree leaning over the water, one of the strongest monkeys nimbly climbed it, going out on one of the horizontal branches as far as he deemed safe, then, hitching his tail round it, let his body hang down. A second followed, hitched his tail round the body of the first, and hung down. Others followed, and repeated the hitching process till a living string was formed that reached nearly to the surface of the water; then, by some muscular movements known to themselves, they began to sway to and fro like the pendulum of a clock, going a little farther each time, till the monkey at the end managed to get hold of a branch on the opposite side. He then climbed along it for some distance, and the suspension bridge was complete. The mothers and young ones now began to cross over in an orderly manner. One very large monkey appeared to be chief, and thinking it probable that he would be