HOGS. 249 



the former ; but when they dropped their ears and tail, 

 and sank upon their knees, nor rose till the birds had 

 already risen, they feasted on ' lumps o' pudding.' 



Of the voracity of pigs there are many stories, all 

 more or less disagreeable ; and none more so than when 

 they have killed and partially eaten children, and utterly 

 devoured their young keepers. Such, stories have been 

 too well authenticated to be doubted; but they are 

 exceptions to the general history of the animal. It is 

 much more pleasing to refer to the life, death, and 

 burial of poor Jean, who was saved out of the litter 

 of six (born on board ship) from the butcher's knife. 

 She was brought up as a pet, and suffered to run about 

 deck, among sheep and goats. Most of the live stock 

 was washed off, but Jean remained because she had 

 been stowed away in the long-boat. In warm latitudes 

 the men took their meals on deck, and she was always 

 one of the mess, poking her nose into every bread-bag, 

 and scalding it in the soup. The sailors poured grog 

 down her throat, and twice made her tipsy ; and she 

 behaved as most individuals do on such occasions. 



In consequence of the scarcity of fresh provisions in 

 the Chinese seas, Jean was ordered to be killed, her fry 

 to be eaten one day, her head made into turtle-soup 

 the next, and after that, her legs, etc., roasted ; but the 

 ship's company pleaded that she might be spared, stat- 

 ing, among other reasons, that when called, she came 

 like a dog. ; Jean ! Jean ! ' exclaimed the captain, and 

 she bounced along, tripping up the officer of the watch. 



Like most pets, Jean became intolerably fat and 

 lazy, in which condition she was an object of great 

 attraction to the Chinese ; they longed for her, wanted 

 to buy her, begged for her, and watched for her, 



