166 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



numerous rats and reptiles which so often infest 

 them. Such favourites are they, that, while the 

 dog is looked upon as an unclean animal, whose 

 touch is carefully avoided by the Moslem, the cat is 

 often allowed to partake of the same dish with its 

 master ; unless there be reason to suppose it has 

 been contaminated by eating a scorpion, or other 

 unclean reptile. 



The origin of the respect paid to the Cat by 

 the ancient Egyptians, was owing to the benefits 

 it was thought to confer on mankind, by destroying 

 various noxious reptiles.* And though, as I have 

 already observed, Diodorus, in considering it as the 

 enemy of the asp, and other serpents, gives it 

 more credit than it really deserved, its utility in a 

 country like Egypt must have been universally 

 allowed. This predilection for it is frequently 

 alluded to in the paintings, where a favourite cat 

 is represented accompanying the master of the 

 house in his fowling excursions, or when seated 

 at home with a party of friends. 



*' The care they took of the Cat, and other sacred 

 animals," says Diodorus t, " was remarkable. For 

 these and the ichneumons, they prepared bread 

 sopped in milk, or fish of the Nile cut up into small 

 pieces, and each was supj)lied with the kind of food 

 best suited to its habits and taste. As soon as 

 they died, they were carried amidst bitter lament- 

 ations to the embalmers, and their bodies having 

 been prepared with oil of cedar, and other aromatic 



* Diodor. i. 87. f Diodor. i. 83. 



