Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/200

182 the air ring with their yells and screams of pleasure. They were soon, however, interrupted by the appearance of three very large specimens of their kind, for whom, to my great surprise and amusement, the others immediately made room — some skulking away to a neighbouring tree, from the branches of which they could see their more favoured brethren, others only retiring to a short distance, from whence they looked longingly at the fruit, the first bit of which they were ready to snap up. Some of it we threw beyond the powerful trio, who would turn and stare at us with a truculent visage, followed by a fierce, angry growl, and an occasional dart at those whose penchant for plantains made them more than usually bold.

The largest of the three is called by the natives the Rajah, and the other two may be considered in the light of aides-de-camp to his serene highness.

These monkeys were all of a dark grey colour, with black feet and hands; their faces were