674 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



and trouble, in supplying them with meat and water, 

 for it was sometimes difficult to procure them enough 

 of the latter ; but their services were invaluable, often 

 contributing to our safety, and always to our ease, 

 by their constant vigilance ; as we felt a confidence 

 that no danger could approach us at night, without 

 being announced by their barking. No circumstance 

 could render the value and fidelity of these animals so 

 conspicuous and sensible as a journey through regions 

 which, abounding in wild beasts of almost every class, 

 gave continual opportunities of witnessing the strong 

 contrast in their habits, between the ferocious beasts 

 of prey, which fly at the approach of man, and those 

 kind, but too often injured companions of the human 

 race. Many times, when we have been travelling 

 over plains where those have fled the moment we 

 appeared in sight, have I turned my eyes towards my 

 dogs to admire their attachment, and have felt a 

 grateful affection towards them for preferring our 

 society to the wild liberty of other quadrupeds. 

 Often, in the middle of the night, when all my people 

 have been asleep around a fire, have I stood to con- 

 template these faithful animals lying by their side, and 

 have learnt to esteem them for their social inclination 

 to mankind. When wandering over pathless deserts, 

 oppressed with vexation and distress, at the conduct 

 of my own men, I have turned to these as my only 

 friends, and felt how much inferior to them was man, 

 when actuated only by selfish views. It is impossible 

 for the naturalist, when taking a survey of the whole 

 animal creation, not to feel the conviction, that this 

 friendship between two creatures so different from each 

 other, must be the result of the laws of nature ; nor 

 can the humane and feeling mind avoid the belief, that 

 kindness to those animals, from which he derives con- 



