183 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



pirates, who took almost all our provisions away, of 

 course including our live stock ; and if it had not been 

 for the numerous parrots in the vessel, Sai must have 

 met with a melancholy death. Some died daily as we 

 came into colder climates, and he was allowed one each 

 day. It was just enough to keep him from starving ; 

 and this sometimes made him seize it so ravenously, 

 that he did not give himself time to pluck off tho 

 feathers. These in process of time formed a hard sub- 

 stance within the intestines, which made him very ill. 

 He refused even his small portion of food, and I thought 

 would have died ; but I made some pills of calomel, 

 butter, and flour, and put them very far down his 

 throat, while his particular attendant, one of the cabin 

 boys, held his jaws open. The boy slept in the cage 

 with him all night ; and the next morning I adminis- 

 tered a further dose, which effected his cure. 



Having, after a long absence from England, no 

 accommodation for such an inmate, we as speedily as 

 possible sought a home for him. He was presented to 

 the Duchess of York, who boarded him at Exeter 

 Change, till she herself was going to Oatlands. I visited 

 him more than once, and it was only by stratagem that 

 I could get away without his following me. One morn- 

 ing the Duchess called and played with him, when he 

 appeared to be in perfect health. In the evening, when 

 her coachman went to fetch him, he was dead, and his 

 malady said to be inflammation of the lungs. 



The panther is considered as a sacred animal on tho 

 Gold Coasts, and the priests demand a fine for each ono 

 that is killed ; consequently, they and leopards (if there 

 be any difference) are numerous, and occasionally commit 

 nuch mischief. They leap over high walls or stockades, 



