Among some scores of these impudent marauders, was a remarkably robust, grey-bearded, active monkey, who had sustained a severe gash in his upper lip at some former period of his career, doubtless whilst engaged in a combatative affray, which wound had ultimately become cicatrised; and upon this account, the Colonel, by way of contradistinction, very appositely designated him Cutlip. This audacious trespasser was sure to be the very first and foremost in every furtive and mischievous encounter; and, indeed, so notorious had be become, that the word Cutlip with the whole of the native domestics was as "Familiar in their mouths as household words." Upon one occasion, the babauchee (cook) had carelessly left his turban suspended upon a peg behind the kitchen door, whilst he turned his back for a minute to procure some necessary article, when, upon his return, he discovered, to his utter dismay, that his head-furniture was missing, and casting his eyes instinctively, as it were, up towards the tree, he observed Cutlip, to his no small mortification, busily occupied in unfolding the rolls of muslin, as if intent upon ascertaining what might be at the bottom of the multiplied mystery. After having satisfied himself to the full extent of his inquiries, he commenced rending the flimsy material asunder, which fell piecemeal under the tree, like a shower of Bank of England notes; he then twice and once patted his posteriors, ascended one of the loftiest branches of the bannian, and leisurely took a survey of the surrounding scenery with the utmost unaffected complacency. Upon this occasion, he escaped with a few anathemas bestowed upon his uninvited carcase by the indignant and provoked hireling of the kitchen. Time rolled on, and Cutlip's notoriety kept pace with its progress. One morning, the Colonel feeling himself unwell, indulged in bed longer than it was usual for him to do; and the door of his apartment being partially open, he fancied he caught a glimpse of some person approach a conversation table in the room, upon which he had, but a few minutes previously, deposited a valuable family gold snuff-box. He instantly directed his attention to the furniture, and missed his box. Leaping out of bed, and seizing the chamber-utensil in his hand, he gave immediate chase to the hairy felon, shouting out, at the top of his voice," Bundhur puckerou" (stop the monkey)," Choor puckerou" (stop thief!) There was a wall six feet high, which separated a court on the Colonel's premises from the site on which the temple was situated, and the monkey was in the act of attempting to surmount this barrier, when the chasseur dismissed the bed-side weapon he had in his hand at the fugitive, which operated as so many sharpnel shells exploding about his head and shoulders, as the vessel fell in shattered fragments from the side of the wall which the thief was in the act of ascending. Cutlip dropped the valuable relic from his paw, uttering the most piercing screams; but he eventually succeeded in clearing the fence, and reaching his sanctuary in security. The Hindoos will upon no account whatever destroy this animal, holding it sacred; nor will they readily forgive such, whose religious persuasions may entirely differ from their own, who may take away the life of a monkey; upon this latter account, it is deemed consistent with right policy for Europeans sojourning in India to abstain from adopting a practice which is viewed in a light of abhorrence by the Hindoo population. The Colonel, however, with a view to obviate any further annoyance on the part of this arrogant intruder, proceeded, after he had finished his breakfast, to the bazaar, and procured a large iron-toothed rat-trap, which he brought home with him, and tying the tail of the trap to the leg of a table in the room, he carefully baited it with a fresh-plucked irresistibly tempting morsel, in the character of a custard apple (surruffhur). Leaving the parlour door partially ajar, he betook himself to the stables, to inspect his nags. In less than ten minutes after he had quitted the room, the bag-pipes struck up the old well-known air There's na'e luck about the house." The Colonel readily recognised the music, as well as the source whence it proceeded; and hastening back to the chamber, he there found Master Cutlip a prisoner "in durance vile." How to release his unlucky paw out of purgatory, was now a grave question. Whilst the tortured limb wrung forth from its owner the most overwhelming accents of throbbing agony, the creature's incessant screeching summoned to the spot some scores of other monkeys, who came to see what was the matter; and although they could not assist him, they evinced their hostile intentions towards the Colonel, by exposing their phalanxes of dentition, and chattering the most ill-fraught menaces against him, insomuch that he was, in selfdefence, necessitated to handle his Joe Manton; at the sight of which, they speedily decamped. With the aid of two of the servants, the Colonel with some difficulty succeeded in setting the captive free, who went limping away like a ricketty tripod set in clumsy motion; but from that day, the person of Cutlip was never more recognised. It is a wellknown fact, that a dead monkey is a circumstance seldom witnessed in India; and it is upon this latter account that the natives attribute to this animal the peculiar faculty of interring its own dead; but it is far more probable that when a monkey sickens unto death, the creature retires into some secluded bush in the jungle, therein to discharge the last functions of life; and Cutlip, there can be little doubt, died in the above obscure manner, having pined away to death with pain and exhaustion. For three successive nights following, the Colonel and two of the officers of the 22nd Regiment stormed this monkey fortress by throwing among the branches a plentiful stock of ignited squibs and crackers. Some of the inhabitants were to be heard screeching in despair; others fainted and fell beneath the tree; and the effects of the siege were so woeful in the issue, that on the fourth day after the opening of the assault, not a monkey was to be seen within a mile of the premises. LITERATURE. THE NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS OF THE SALMON. By Andrew Young, of Invershim, Sutherland. London: Longmans.- Mr. Young has long been known as an authority on the subject to which this little work is devoted. He proves, too, in every page his full claim to that attention his opinions have commanded; while his object is one which should ensure for his book a very general popularity. Of all the luxuries we enjoy, none perhaps has been more abused-none where the supply has been so wantonly mismanaged, or so shamefully curtailed, as in that of this famous fish. Mr. Young, in conjunction with other gentlemen, is now devoting his energies to remedy this. It is a matter in which we are nearly all alike interested, and for the furtherance of which we can take no better guide than the long experience and careful study that has so well delineated the history and habits of the salmon. BLAINE'S OUTLINES OF THE VETERINARY ART. Revised and improved by Edward Mayhew. London: Longmans.-This is a sixth edition, which owes much of its value to the very perfect manner in which the present editor has adapted it to the hour it appears. In every way the book has been really improved-in matter, plates (new ones), arrangement, and general getting up. Though necessarily more or less a work of a technical nature, it is one from which every lover of the horse may gather much to the advantage of himself and his stuy. To the profession the volume will require little recommendation at our hands. LETTERS FROM THE NILE. By J. W. Clayton, Esq., 13th Light Dragoons. Thomas Bosworth, 215, Regent Street. We strongly recommend this volume to our readers; it is evidently the production of a keen observer. There is a truthfulness-a freshness throughout its pages, which cannot fail to interest and delight. And when we find a high tone of moral reflection, united with a joyous open-hearted merry strain, we cannot refrain from offering the author our unfeigned thanks for the literary treat he has afforded us. The time was when young cornets of crack cavalry regiments devoted themselves to strong port, billiards, and other delights of country quarters; Mr. Clayton has proved, in his own case, that military men of the present day take a nobler flight, and feel proud in adding the name of scholar to that of officer and gentleman. May his example be followed! 226 PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS. "I belong to the unpopular family of Telltruths, and would not flatter Apollo for his lyre."-Rob Roy. Time was, when September set in, every one rushed out of London; and the City, which for months previous had been a fair, became all at once a desert. Now-a-days, owing to the popularity of King Steam, there is a continual alternation between country and town; it is that, despite the heavy draught from the metropolis at this season, which accounts for there being still something to be seen-some wonder to be discussed. It is true the season par excellence is over, the Opera is closed; yet there is attraction for the beau monde. By the way, the late season of the ITALIAN OPERA was, whatever may be iterated, a brilliant one, serving, as it did, to illustrate the closing scenes in this country of the engagement of one of the greatest singers that ever lent a lustre to the operatic firmament: the name of Grisi will ever be remembered with pleasurable emotion, This engagement alone would entitle Mr. Gye to the good graces of his subscribers: but the past has told its own tale, it is the present that now claims attention-and very pleasant this present is, seeing that it has chief reference to the exhilarating entertainment at the HAYMARKET THEATRE. The only inducement to enter a theatre during this sultry weather, is the very one so successfully hit upon by Mr. Buckstone, whose engagement of the Spanish dancers is a coup of no ordinary character: the heat of all the Indies should not act as any impediment to witnessing the pleasing pas, the twinkling steps, the expressive motion, and the irresistible fascination of Signora Perea Nena. Why rather than lose such a gratification, it would be compensatory to bear the heat of the House of Commons during the fiercest debate-not upon the New Beer Act, when senators slept; to read the effusions of home critics upon the War; to listen to the diatribes of the "Progresistas" upon the moustache movement,-in short, it would be wise to undergo any infliction rather than miss the opportunity of seeing the Spanish dancers. To the "Star of Andalusia" a new ballet succeeds, in a double sense; "The Gipsy Queen," by the exercise of her witchery, will cause all hands to be held up for her: not only should she tell-but, in Mr. Buckstone's instance, this most regal of gipsies should make his fortune. Another attraction there is, just now, at The St. George's Gallery, Knightsbridge, where quite apropos is presented the TURKISH EXHIBITION. To say the amount of capital which has been expended to ensure this collection being correct in every detail, is a task which would furnish even that acute arithmetician, Mr. Joseph Hume, with some difficulty; suffice it to state that capital has been well laid out. The result of nearly twelve months' labour clearly indicates that the exertions of the enterprising proprietors, Messrs. Oscanyan and Aznavour, have been well bestowed. A more interesting exhibi tion could not possibly be brought before the public, whose anxiety at this exciting period of our history to be well-informed in everything regarding the habits and customs of a country whose cause is so warmly espoused by England and France, is as intense as it is natural. From the Sultan in his divan, down to the porters of Constantinople, fac-similes are presented; even those hard-working, but ill spoken of irregulars, the Bashi-Bazouks, are here before you, looking as fierce as life-more could not be said. Even the ladies of the Harem, with those ugly dingy demoniac attendants, so often appearing in "The Arabian Nights," do not scruple at your long-directed gaze, but rather appear to be pleased and flattered by your notice. Never was there a better illustration of the proverb that "out of evil there cometh good," than in this exhibition; for if Nicholas had not waged his hypocritical and brigand-like pretensions, society would not have to boast of the Turkish Exhibition. What with the Spanish Dancers and the Turkish Exhibition, not only is there novelty to engross attention at this otherwise dull season, but there is really "something to be seen." Still, if amusements al fresco be also adopted, why no better spot could be selected than CREMORNE, where, after indulging in a little aquatics, a pleasant wind-up may be made. The gardens never appeared to be in better condition; and as for the quadrupedal part of the entertainment, nothing could be more astounding than the antics of a Frenchman's (or a man with a French name) troupe of dogs. Such canine gymnastics are beyond anything ever looked upon by the dull optics of an ordinary biped. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. SALES OF BLOOD STOCK. By Messrs. Tattersall, on Monday, July 31st:— THE PROPERTY OF SIR J. HAWLEY. GS. Vanity, by Camel out of Vat, by Langar; covered by Cowl (to the Royal Stud) 290 Dauntless, by Defence, her dam Miss Bab, by Highland Fling; covered by Cowl THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN. Changarnier, 3 yrs., by Epirus out of Grace Darling (The Hero's dam) On Monday, August 6th : 20 20 Sandhurst, 4 yrs. (own brother to Woolwich) by Chatham out of Clementina 61 The Probe, by Y. Priam out of Oh! Don't, by Irish Birdcatcher; covered by Harkaway... Poussin, by Peter Lely, dam by Champignon.. First Lord, 3 yrs., by Melbourne out of Testatrix, by Touchstone. YEARLINGS, WITH THEIR ENGAGEMENTS. Aleppo, a bay colt, by Alarm out of Palmyra...... Tarbuinia, a bay filly, by Essedarius out of Hester ...... 56 28 131 500 50 |