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In the silence and longing of that night, however, Koree audibly breathed the following sentiment, which is the first poetry made by the human race:

What is life

Without a wife?

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As rosy-colored Morn advanced to greet the opening eyes of monkeys and men, and spread her beams over Cocoanut Hill, lifting at last the veil of mists which hung over Alligator Swamp, a fat baboon was seen wending his way with a child in his arms to the settlement of the Lali. All night long he had traversed wood and swamp, picking his way through bush and fen, eluding the serpent and fleeing from the cry of the catamount, his only companion the moon, and his only hope the morning.

“I have avenged the rape of Soolee,” he said, as he approached the assembled Apes who were expecting the several warriors back which had gone to the country of the Ammi to recover the child that had been recently captured by them.

Great chatterings and shouts of gratification went up from the Lali as they saw one of their number thus return victorious. Only the mother of Soolee appeared distressed.