186 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



him, and only tried by caresses to evince his happiness. 

 He was very fond of hiding himself under one of the 

 sofas in the hall, where a rustling noise, a protruding 

 paw, or an occasional peep from behind the cover, alone 

 betrayed his presence. The Governor was once enter- 

 taining some officers from Elmina, when, in the midst 

 of an animated discussion, they both turned pale and 

 stopped speaking. Their host looked up. ' I beg your 

 pardon,' said one of them, ' but are you aware what 

 animal is now lying under that sofa T ' Sai,' said my 

 uncle, ' come and speak to these gentlemen.' The pan- 

 ther walked up to them, and both darted behind the 

 Governor, nor did they feel comfortable when Sai was 

 ordered back to his hiding-place. I bantered one of 

 them about his fears when I met him at dinner, and he 

 confessed that he had never been more frightened. One 

 of the drollest circumstances attending Sa'i's presence 

 at the castle occurred to a woman who swept the floor 

 of the great hall every day before dinner was laid, with 

 a little hand-broom called a prah-prah. She was en- 

 gaged in her usual occupation, without knowing that 

 Sai was there, and stooping almost on all fours ; when 

 with a sudden impulse of fun the panther jumped upon 

 her back, and stood there wagging his tail. Naturally 

 supposing she was going to be devoured, the poor 

 prah-prah woman screamed so violently as to bring 

 the other servants, whereupon they, being of the same 

 opinion as herself, and thinking their turn might come 

 next, ran away ; nor was she released till the Governor, 

 hearing the noise, came to her assistance. 



Before Sai was put on board the vessel in which we 

 were to sail together, we had become the best friends 

 possible ; and I and my uncle coaxed him into the cage 



