Required

• Rope tied to the cross trees, with sufficient length to allow it to be tied (Bowline loop), around the chest of the Monkey.
• The Monkey,( one of your messmates), must be able to touch the ground comfortably beneath the spar, so that by adjusting the rope length he can launch himself out into space, with some vigour and swing around to capture or mark one of the players.
• The cross tree is to be of sufficient height to enable the Monkey to articulate his movements and swings outwards from this home circle, beneath the spar.
• Piece of chalk by which the Monkey can mark his opponents.
• Knotted Hankerchiefs to baste the Monkey, and thus score points.

To Play The Game

In concept this game is somewhat familiar to the childhood game of 'Piggy in the Middle' but more vigourous and skillful.

• The monkey is chosen by lot, to take his place in the bowline loop, of the rope.
• The loop hangs over a circle on the ground, into which his opponents cannot enter or crowd, if they do they become the Monkey.
• The Monkey, is armed with a chalk to mark his opponents, if he suceeds he is instantly released and the other takes his place as monkey.
• An active monkey, can be very difficult to approach with safety, whilst his opponents can produce quite a sting with their basting.
  A monkey is at risk of becoming disoriented and so must make his score quickly, whilst it is understood that with players who don't mind a little buffeting can make for a very lively game.
• Obviously a weary monkey, can be pushed or buffeted around and around, before a lucky stab ends his misery. But a skilled antagonist can quickly, use the rope and his safety circle to great advantage.
• One of the more effective ruses is to throw yourself forward on the rope to pretend you are making in one direction, but use that momentum to swing back in a loop to score on your opponent behind.

 

Evidence of Use in RN

1.1833 - In this sketch taken from the Conrad Martens sketchbook - MS.Add. 7983: 27 - Date: 25th December 1833

We can observe a large tripod stands, seemingly constructed from oars, projecting upwards to twice the height of the point where they are lashed together. The base of the triangle is approximately equilateral, the sides measuring about 2.5m. Around the tripod there are six figures, four standing, two near the rightmost apex, one each near the others. The standing figure on the right is depicted in colour, wearing white trousers and a blue-fronted jacket with a dark or black back. The sixth figure is hanging on rope by the ankles from the join of the tripod; he is wearing black trousers, and his head and torso are possibly covered in a sack. In the background, HMS Beagle is moored to the left of HMS Adventure. Obviously it is fun and games on Ghristmas Day. With a major variation in the rules as depicted above. However the drawing seems to show the Monkey sketching out his mark on the ground, within which the others could not venture.

 

2. 1835 - Classic evidence of this game, which cstrongly suggest familiarity in theNapoleonic Wars whrn the Pensioners would have had their legs amputated.

Depicted are a group of Greenwich Naval Hosital pensioners, playing the game on Greenwich Park. Note that one of the characters is a young tar in shore going white trousers and others have wooden legs. The diversity of the racial mix within the hospital inmates is evidenced by the man of colour that joins in. Collection of NMM - A cartoon by George Cruikshank

 3. 1897 - A letter by R.Waterfield: (Published 1939) in Notes and Queries (1939) 176 (11): p.94 Oxford University Press ISSN 1471-6941 - Print ISSN 0029-3970

He describes it as played by the passengers aboard SS Caledonia in 1897 - Here the Monkey places one foot in a rope loop, which passes under the instep of the foot. The other end of the rope being attached to an overhead beam. The monkey then holds on with the other hand and uses his free foot (being some 6 inches off the floor) to push and spin himself about.
First he needs to make a mark on the deck with his other hand - to do which it is best to go face down and reach as far as you can outwatds with the other hand. - No person was allowed within this circle.
The object of the game is to swing himself out to his opponent, that he might mark him with his chalk. Whilst the other fellowes, will attempt to buffet him with knotted ropes etc.
Mr Waterfield also states that he remembers on other occasions the 'Monkey' being tied up about the waist.

4. From p.26 of TRH THE, PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES by Harry Richard Whates.Published LONDON , GEORGE NEWNES, LIMITED, LONDON :

The young Princes joined HMSBacchante, on 6th August 1879, off Cowes as Naval Cadets.

Once Cowes week was over they then accompanied their mother on a visit to Denmmark, before re-joining the ship, which finally left Spithead on the 25th September.

During the run from Portland to Gibraltar, the young Princes record with evident satisfaction that the horizontal bar was rigged up on the quarter-deck, so that they might keep themselves in condition with rope-quoits, single-stick, boxing, dumb-bells, clubs, tug-of-war, "high cockolorum," "slinging the monkey," and so on.

They go on to say that 'the secret of success at " slinging the monkey' they record, is that 'when you are the monkey, you must, get well through the slings, otherwise, if they are close under the arms, you are practically helpless'.

Another curious game, which afforded them much amusement, consisted in trying to sit on an empty quart bottle on the deck and at the same time holding a candle in each hand, one of which was lighted and the other to be lighted from it, without rolling over.

5. From the Ccommission of HMS Terrible 1898-1902 by George Crowe, Master at Arms. p.