1847 H. Melville xxxiv. 134 A small leather wallet—a ‘monkey bag’ (so called by sailors)—usually worn as a purse about the neck.
1850 H. Melville (2000) x. 40 A gang will be informed, that such a fellow has three or four gold pieces in the monkey-bag, so called, or purse, which many tars wear round their necks, tucked out of sight.