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THE STORY OF THE CAFF RE CAT. 



That the ancient Egyptians had succeeded in taming thoroughly the cats 

 of which the mummified bodies are found in large numbers is perfectly well 

 ascertained. This is indeed demonstrated by a painting in the British Museum, 

 representing a fowling scene. It appears tO' have been the custom for the 

 fowler to enter upon such expeditions accompanied by some of the female 

 m.embers of his family. Embarking on board a boat, with a few decoy-birds 

 and a trained cat, they proceeded to such parts of the river as were fringed 

 v^'ith dense masses of the tall papyrus-reed. Waterfowl of various species 



THE CAFFRE CAT, WORSHIPED BY EGYPTIANS. 



swarmed in these rushy covers ; and, by the number of nests with eggs and 

 young usually represented, we are doubtless to infer that the possession of this 

 sort of stock was no less desired than that of the birds themselves. The cat, 

 strange as it appears, was certainly taught to seize upon the birds. It is 

 probable also that the repugnance of this animal to wet her feet having been 

 overcome by training, she was accustomed to fetch such birds as fell into the 

 water. It is interesting to find the cat domesticated at so early a period. 



