496 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



trict intruded on. The cats, however, are not often 

 so foohsh ; if they are inclined to rarabie, they do so 

 along the house-tops, as they can do for miles without 

 any danger, taking the liberty of entering such houses 

 as they find accessible in their stroll, and freely help- 

 ing themselves, when they can, to the cheer of the 

 lorder. 



It is not an uncommon thing in severe weather to 

 see the Turks with a bag of coarse bread under their 

 arms, feeding these animals in the street, although they 

 would not give a morsel of it to a Christian dying 

 of hunger ; and there are certain portions of the city 

 where a certain number of dogs are fed every day by 

 order of various deceased Sultans. Connected with all 

 the different barracks there is generally a band of from 

 two to six hundred dogs, who may be seen scattered 

 about the neighbourhood at all hours, basking them- 

 selves in the sun in summer, or warming themselves 

 in the snow in winter. 



When the hoar draws nigh for the soldiers' dinner 

 or supper, they will all be gathered together in front 

 of the barrack-gate, as closely huddled together as a 

 flock of sheep, wagging their tails, and looking the 

 very picture of joyous anticipation until the dinner is 

 over ; when the cart filled with the bones and cast- 

 away morsels of the soldiers' repast appears, the 

 dogs surround it on every side ; and while it is being 

 drawn to the place appointed for tumbling it up, the 

 frenzy is great ; but when the emptying takes place, 

 and the precious morsels are scattered on the ground, 

 the excitement is at its height. 



One evening, last winter, about an hour before sun- 

 set on returning from a walk along with a friend, we 

 sa V a crowd of at least two hundred dogs on the hill 

 in front of the artillery-barracks, at the north end 



