-68 THE LEOPARD. 



into the sea. Foi a few minutes I gave up my poor 

 panther as lost ; but some sailors jumpt into a boat 

 oelonging to the vessel, and dragged him out in safe- 

 ty. The beast himself seemed completely subdued 

 by his ducking ; and as no one dared to open his 

 cage to dry it, he rolled himself up in one corner, 

 nor roused himself till after an interval of some days, 

 when he recognised my voice. When I first spoke, 

 he raised his head, held it on one side, then on the 

 other, to listen ; and when I came fully into his 

 view, he jumped on his legs, and appeared frantic ; 

 he rolled himself over and over, he howled, he open- 

 ed his enormous jaws, and cried, and seemed as if he 

 would have torn his cage to pieces. However, as 

 his violence subsided, he contented himself with 

 thrusting his paws and nose through the bat* of the 

 cage, to receive my caresses. 



" The greatest treat I could bestow upon my fa- 

 vourite was lavender-water. Mr Hutchison had told 

 me, that, on the way from Ashantee, he drew a 

 scented handkerchief from his pocket, which was im- 

 mediately seized on by the panther, who reduced it 

 to atoms ; nor could he venture to open a bottle of 

 perfume when the animal was near, he was so eager 

 to enjoy it. I indulged him twice a-week by mak- 

 ing a cup of stiff paper, pouring a little lavender-wa- 

 ter into it, and giving it to him through the bars of 

 his cage : he would drag it to him with great eager- 

 ness, roll himself over it, nor rest till the smell had 

 evaporated. By this I taught him to put out his 



