ANECDOTES OF A DIANA MONKEY.

_By Mrs. Bowdich._


An old ship companion of mine was a native of the Gold Coast, and was of
the Diana species. He had been purchased by the cook of the vessel in
which I sailed from Africa, and was considered his exclusive property.
Jack's place then was close to the cabooce; but as his education
progressed, he was gradually allowed an increase of liberty, till at
last he enjoyed the range of the whole ship, except the cabin. I had
embarked with more than a mere womanly aversion to monkeys, it was
absolute antipathy; and although I often laughed at Jack's freaks, still
I kept out of his way, till a circumstance brought with it a closer
acquaintance, and cured me of my dislike. Our latitude was three degrees
south, and we only proceeded by occasional tornadoes, the intervals of
which were filled up by dead calms and bright weather; when these
occurred during the day, the helm was frequently lashed, and all the
watch went below. On one of these occasions I was sitting alone on the
deck, and reading intently, when, in an instant, something jumped upon
my shoulders, twisted its tale round my neck, and screamed close to my
ears. My immediate conviction that it was Jack scarcely relieved me: but
there was no help; I dared not cry for assistance, because I was afraid
of him, and dared not obey the next impulse, which was to thump him off,
for the same reason, I therefore became civil from necessity, and from
that moment Jack and I entered into an alliance. He gradually loosened
his hold, looked at my face, examined my hands and rings with the most
minute attention, and soon found the biscuit which lay by my side. When
I liked him well enough to profit by his friendship, he became a
constant source of amusement. Like all other nautical monkeys, he was