248 ANECDOTES OF ANIMALS. 



when we were bivouacking close to a Mohammedan 

 village, the people and the priests thronged around us, 

 so as to be extremely troublesome ; and the only way 

 in which we could keep them at a distance, without 

 force, was by tying pieces of ham over the different 

 entrances of the building in which we were. 



Somewhat like rats, there seems to be a mysterious 

 distribution of swine all over the face of the earth ; 

 and much astonishment was created in the minds of tha 

 discoverers of the South Sea Islands by finding them 

 in those far-off specks of earth. Perhaps there had 

 been earlier navigators there than ourselves. 



Pork, fresh or cured, forms the principal food of our 

 sailors and peasantry ; and most precious is the pig to 

 the poor man. It is often the pet of the younger branches 

 of his family, and returns their affection with interest. 



Of course, it is an idle fable that pigs can see and 

 smell the wind ; but it is perfectly true that they are 

 always much agitated when a storm is approaching. 



Considering the stupid way in which they run when 

 they are frightened, the manner in which they squeak on 

 all occasions, and the obstinacy which they evince, very 

 often when an endeavour is made to add to their relief or 

 comfort, it is not surprising that a low estimate of their 

 intelligence should have been formed. Nevertheless 

 they have been trained to point out letters and to spell 

 words, till they have acquired the appellation of ' learned 

 pigs/ What, however, is more useful, they draw the 

 plough in the south of France ; they are taught to hunt 

 the truffles, which are hidden under the soil ; they even 

 stand at game like the most accomplished pointers. 

 The latter instruction was conveyed by means of stones 

 and pudding : if they failed in their duty, they received 



