126 The Book of Cats. 



Another Cat was conveyed from its home in 

 Jamaica to a place five miles distant, and during 

 the time of its transport was sown up closely in a 

 bag. Between the two places were two rivers, one 

 of them about eighty feet broad, deep, and running 

 strong ; the other wider and more rapid. The Cat 

 must have swum these rivers, as there were no 

 bridges ; but in spite of all obstacles, she made her 

 way back to the house from which she had been 

 taken. 



In 1 8 19 a favourite Tabby belonging to a ship- 

 master was left on shore, by accident, while his 

 vessel sailed from the harbour of Aberdour, Fife- 

 shire, which is about half a mile from the village. 

 The vessel was a month absent, and on her return, 

 to the astonishment of the shipmaster, Puss came 

 on board with a fine stout kitten in her mouth, ap- 

 parently about three weeks old, and went directly 

 down into the cabin. Two others of her young 

 ones were afterwards caught, quite wild, in a neigh- 

 bouring wood, where she must have remained with 

 them until the return of the ship. The shipmaster 

 did not allow her, again, to go on shore, otherwise it 

 is probable she would have brought all her family 

 on board. It was very remarkable, because vessels 

 were daily going in and out of the harbour, none of 



