|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It was at
the turn of the nineteenth century that a bizarre
turn of events unfolded. In the northern part of
England, where the winters are cold and long, the
French were attempting to invade England. This was
during the Napoleonic Wars.
In Hartlepool, which at the time was an important
trading port, part of the invasion was nearing the
shore.
The English, fearful of the continental colonists,
kept watch as a boat struggled in the rough seas.
The notoriously savage coastline claimed another
victim, as the boat was wrecked on the rocks. In
the detritus and debris found washed ashore there
was a survivor.
The fishermen who had watched as the ship was smashed
against the rocks plucked the survivor from the
frigid waters.
The survivor was alive but was a monkey. To amuse
themselves the French sailors had dressed the monkey
in |
|
|
military uniform.
This baffled the fishermen who had not seen a monkey before.
They decided that, as it was part of the invasion, it
must therefore, be a French spy.
The monkey did not, unsurprisingly, speak English and
was unable to defend itself at the beach-based trial.
The ruling was unanimous and the monkey was found guilty
of being a spy. The fishermen carried out the ruling by
executing the monkey by hanging. The mast of a fishing
boat served as makeshift gallows.
Whilst nowadays they know more about wildlife and the
French, the Hartlepoolians are less severe in their punishments.
Historians have refuted the accuracy of this story but
it still survives in the tales of the areas. The story
of the French monkey spy is one that still entertains.
It's accuracy is difficult to ascertain but its amusement
factor is easier to gauge.
Previous Article Top Next Article |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Previous
Article |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
|
|
Read
Leisure By :
