THE DOG. 123 



dogs, therefore, wander about at random in the villages, or streets 

 of great cities, without any owners. The Mahometans, however, 

 are remarkable for their humanity to the brute creation ; and if 

 they have an abhorrence for these animals, they at least refrain 

 from doing them any injury, and feed them with the offals of 

 victuals, which they throw to them into the street. This human- 

 ity is, indeed, carried to a very great height in some places, es- 

 pecially in Egypt, where dogs are perhaps more numerous than 

 in any other part of the world, and ext eedingly useful in destroy- 

 ing a variety of vermin, and devouring the carrion which, in so 

 sultry a climate, soon putrefies. A cer.ain portion of provision 

 is sometimes given them at the public expense; and instances 

 have been met with, of wealthy individuals, who have by will be- 

 queathed a sum of money to be appropriated to the support of 

 these animals. 



Although neither the utility nor agreeable qualifications of the 

 dog can be called in question, it must be acknowledged, that, to 

 these it unites some mischievous propensities. If we consider the 

 numberless misfortunes caused by dogs, and that there are many 

 country villages through which a person can scarcely either walk 

 or ride in safety, unless he take great care to avoid being lacera- 

 ted by their teeth, or thrown from his horse in consequence of 

 their barking ; as well as the dreadful effects of canine madness, 

 of which every year furnishes fatal instances ; that besides this, 

 it is no uncommon thing among farmers to have ten or a dozen 

 sheep destroyed in one night by dogs, which stroll about from 

 the villages, and very often without being able to discover the 

 delinquent ; and if we also consider that many persons keep 

 those dogs who are not in circumstances to make a compensation 

 for the damages they occasion, and some who are scarcely able 

 to procure subsistence for their families, we cannot but think 

 that these animals are somewhat too numerous. We are very 

 far from being advocates for abridging the enjoyments of the 

 poor, whether consisting in substantial benefits, or the gratifica- 

 tion of fancy, and should be happy to inculcate an universal sen- 

 timent of benevolence towards the animal creation ; but a me- 

 dium ought always to be preserved ; and no species of brutes 

 ought to be multiplied to the detriment of human society. 



