DOGS. 73 



Cupe Coast Castle when I was there, accompanied by 

 three, not imagining the temptation they would present 

 to the appetite of the natives. One disappeared in the 

 act of landing, and the two others were gone before 

 three weeks had elapsed. My uncle fancied that his 

 rank would secure a favourite sent to him from Europe. 

 He one morning received a deputation from the king of 

 a native town, requesting a palaver or conference. It 

 was granted, and his sable majesty formally made pro- 

 posals for Caesar to figure as a roast at a grand feast 

 which he was about to hold. My uncle indignantly 

 refused; the king increased the sum offered, till it 

 amounted to something considerable; and then the 

 Englishman, unable to control himself, left the room, 

 and sent the customary refreshments, with a message 

 to signify that the palaver was ended. Although every 

 precaution was taken to save the animal, he was stolen 

 that same night, and gratified the palates of the African 

 gourmands. 



I now come to what Colonel Smith calls c The 

 Familiar Dogs,' where we find an amount of intellect 

 which forbids us to say that they do not reason ; and 

 where self-sacrifice, fidelity, courage, and affection, in 

 many instances raise them far beyond more gifted 

 creatures. It will be advisable to follow the series of 

 some established work in treating of them, and I have 

 selected that of Colonel Hamilton Smith, both for its 

 extent and its ability. He begins with those which are 

 placed nearest to the Arctic Circle of both hemispheres, 

 and which form a group of large, wolfish dogs, with 

 tapering noses, pointed ears, and, generally speaking, 

 long white and black hair. They are fierce, broad and 

 often web-footed; they swim well, hunt together or 



