184 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



The panther to which I allude was one of two cubs 

 found in one of the forests of the kingdom of Ashanti. 

 They were both taken to the king, and when Mr. Hut- 

 chison (the resident left in Kumasi by Mr. Bowdich) 

 came to headquarters, his Majesty desired this one to 

 be presented to the Governor. He had suffocated his 

 brother in a fit of romping, being much the larger of the 

 two ; but he was extremely docile and good-tempered, 

 and was led by a chain only, being let loose when eating 

 was going forward, on which occasions he received his 

 share. But he helped himself to a fowl once or twice ; 

 and as he always gave it up to his master, he was 

 occasionally employed to secure provisions when the 

 natives surlily refused a supply. He was one day sit- 

 ting behind Mr. Hutchison, with his chin on the latter's 

 shoulder, when this gentleman refreshed himself by 

 pouring some lavender water on his handkerchief. In 

 an instant the panther tore it out of his hand, as if 

 in a state of ecstasy, nor ceased to roll over it till the 

 cambric was in fragments. 



The day after his arrival at Cape Coast he was led 

 into the hall where we were all dining, and he received 

 our salutations with apparent pleasure. On one occa- 

 sion he stood on his hind-legs and put his fore-paws on 

 the shoulders of an officer, who hastily retreated ; and it 

 was amusing to see the unconquerable dread of him 

 which assailed men who were undaunted where men only 

 were conQerned. We named the panther Sai ' after 

 the king, and he was kept in a small court ; his claws 

 and teeth were filed, and no live food was given to him. 

 A boy was appointed to watch him. He was perfectly 

 harmless ; and the only violence he evinced was when a 

 servant pulled his food from him, and he then tore a 



