midnight
The exchange of information completed , Zircon changed the subject . The scientist knew they were in need of something to take their minds off the search for a while , and he encouraged Captain Lim to tell them about Zamboanga and its long and sometimes bloody history . The officer turned out to be an entertaining story-teller . He kept them laughing , or on the edges of their chairs until after midnight . Then he began teaching them the famous song that goes : _ The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga ! The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga ! The monkeys have no tails ; They were bitten off by whales !