Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
stomach, or even on its face, without the least regard to its feelings. While I was feeding the
Mias, the monkey would sit by, picking up all that was spilt, and occasionally putting out its
hands to intercept the spoon; and as soon as I had finished would pick off what was left
sticking to the Mias' lips, and then pull open its mouth and see if any still remained inside;
afterwards lying down on the poor creature's stomach as on a comfortable cushion. The
little helpless Mias would submit to all these insults with the most exemplary patience, only
too glad to have something warm near it, which it could clasp affectionately in its arms. It
sometimes, however, had its revenge; for when the monkey wanted to go away, the Mias
would hold on as long as it could by the loose skin of its back or head, or by its tail, and it
was only after many vigorous jumps that the monkey could make his escape.
It was curious to observe the different actions of these two animals, which could not have
differed much in age. The Mias, like a very young baby, lying on its back quite helpless,
rolling lazily from side to side, stretching out all four hands into the air, wishing to grasp
something, but hardly able to guide its fingers to any definite object; and when dissatisfied,
opening wide its almost toothless mouth, and expressing its wants by a most infantine
scream. The little monkey, on the other hand, in constant motion; running and jumping
about wherever it pleased, examining everything around it, seizing hold of the smallest ob-
jects with the greatest precision, balancing itself on the edge of the box or running up a post,
and helping itself to anything eatable that came in its way. There could hardly be a greater
contrast, and the baby Mias looked more baby-like by the comparison.
When I had had it about a month, it began to exhibit some signs of learning to run alone.
When laid upon the floor it would push itself along by its legs, or roll itself over, and thus
make an unwieldy progression. When lying in the box it would lift itself up to the edge into
almost an erect position, and once or twice succeeded in tumbling out. When left dirty, or
hungry, or otherwise neglected, it would scream violently till attended to, varied by a kind
of coughing or pumping noise, very similar to that which is made by the adult animal. If no
one was in the house, or its cries were not attended to, it would be quiet after a little while,
but the moment it heard a footstep would begin again harder than ever.
After five weeks it cut its two upper front teeth, but in all this time it had not grown the
least bit, remaining both in size and weight the same as when I first procured it. This was no
doubt owing to the want of milk or other equally nourishing food. Rice-water, rice, and bis-
cuits were but a poor substitute, and the expressed milk of the cocoa-nut which I sometimes
gave it did not quite agree with its stomach. To this I imputed an attack of diarrhœa from
which the poor little creature suffered greatly, but a small dose of castor-oil operated well,
and cured it. A week or two afterwards it was again taken ill, and this time more seriously.
