30 THE MODEL MERCHANT 



the suggestion being that the tide ran so strong at that point of the 

 river that it carried away all the stones thrown in for a foundation, 

 and it was not until stones were sewed up in woolsacks and thrown in 

 in this manner that they could be kept together. Mr. Keightley 

 argues the improbability of the tale of Whittington's Cat from the 

 fact that there were tales of a similar nature current, both before and 

 at "Whittington's date, in several other countries. In South America, 

 in Denmark, in Tuscany, in Venice, and in Persia; but surely instead 

 of that being a proof that the stoiy of Whittington's Cat was a 

 fabrication, it strikes me on the contrary as a corroboration, and shews 

 that it was the more probable from its not being a singular instance. The 

 price said to have been paid by Don Diego Almagro (the companion of 

 Pizarro in 1535) to ITontenegi'o, for the first Spanish cat that ever was 

 taken to the Indies, i. e. Chili, viz., 600 pieces of eight, is related as 

 a matter of history by Alonzo de Ovalle, a native of that country, 

 and is given in a Collection of Voyages and Travels, 6 vols. fol. ' In 

 another volume of the same collection is a description of the Coasts of 

 South Guinea by Mons. Jean Barbot, translated in 1732, in which 

 appears the following account:" — "Cats, by the blacks called 

 Amboyo, tchose Ireed came from Europe, retain their first form 

 and shape and do not alter their nature. They are generally 

 much valued by the blacks for clearing their houses of rats and 

 mice, which are vciy numerous, especially the first, doing much 

 harm to the inhabitants by devouring and gnawing all they can 

 come at. They are exactly like ours in Europe, as to shape, color, 

 and mischievousness. They did us such considerable damage — that 



years before it was completed. A priest, named Isenbert, was recommended by 

 King Jobn for the honor of completing it, but the city rejected the prince's 

 choice and committed the work to three merchants (qy. wool merchants) of London. 

 This great work was founded on enormous piles, driven as closely as possible 

 together; on them was placed the base of the pier, the lowermost stones of 

 which were bedded in pitch, to prevent the water from damaging the work. — 

 Pennant's London^ p. 296. 



r Collection of Voyages and Travels, 6 vols. fol. London, 1732, in which (vol. 3.) 

 is given an historical relation of the kingdom of ChUc, by Alonso de Ovalle, of the 

 Company of Jesus, a native of Saint Jago, in Chile, and procurator of Eome for 

 that place. Printed at Rome by Francisco Cavallo, 1649. 



a Collection of Voyages and Travels, as above, vol. v. p. 216. 



