84 The Book of Cats. 



goes, I should say that the gentleman was Charles 

 the First. 



In 1857 ^^ advertisement appeared in several 

 newspapers of a person w^ho was willing to buy any 

 number of live Cats for exportation. They were 

 probably wanted for New Zealand ; but it is not 

 every emigrating Puss that is as lucky as Dick 

 Whittington's (which, of course, by the way, never 

 existed at all.) As a contrast to the successful 

 career of the Cat described above, let me tell you, 

 in almost the same words in which it is amusingly 

 told in a magazine article, the story of a Cat who 

 went " some strange countries for to see." 



During the bold campaign of Mr. Williams the 

 Missionary in Polynesia, a favourite Cat was taken 

 on shore by one of the teacher's wives at their first 

 visit to the island of Rarotonga. But Tom, not 

 liking the aspect of his new acquaintance, fled to 

 the mountains. Under the influence of the apostles 

 of the new religion, a priest named Tiaki had de- 

 stroyed his idol. His house was situated at a dis- 

 tance from the settlement, and at midnight, while 

 he was lying asleep on his mat, his wife, who was 

 sitting awake by his side, musing upon the strange 

 events of the day, beheld, with consternation, two 

 fires glittering in the doorway, and heard with sur- 



