VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 23 



In Nubia is a smaller dog of the same kind, which never burrows. It 

 lives on small animals and birds, and rarely enters any of the towns. A 

 similar dog, according to Colonel Hamilton Smith, inhabits the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Cape, and particularly the Karroo or Wilderness. It is 

 smaller than either of the others, and lives among bushes or under pro- 

 minent rocks. Others, although not identified with the jackal, yet asso- 

 ciating with him, inhabit the uplands of Gambia and Senegal. 



On the Gold Coast, the dog is used and prized as an article of food. 

 He is fattened and driven to market as the European drives his sheep and 

 hogs. The dog is even more valued than the sheep for human subsist- 

 ence, and is deemed the greatest luxury that can be placed even on the 

 royal table. 



In Loango, or Lower Guinea, is a town from which the African wild 

 dogs derive their name the dingo. They hunt in large packs. They 

 fearlessly attack even the elephant, and generally destroy him. In the 

 neighbourhood of the Cape, the country is nearly cleared of wild beasts ; 

 but in Cape Town there are a great number of lean and miserable dogs, 

 who howl about the streets at night, quitting their dens and lurking- 

 places, in quest of offal. No great while ago, the wolves and hysenas 

 used to descend and dispute the spoil with the dogs, while the town re- 

 sounded with their hideous howlings all the night long. 



This will be a proper place to refer to the numerous accounts that are 

 given both in ancient and modern times of the immolation of dogs, and of 

 their being used for food. They were sacrificed at certain periods by the 

 Greeks and Romans to almost all their deities, and particularly to Mars, 

 Pluto, and Pan, to Minerva, Proserpine, and Lucina, and also to the moon, 

 because the dog by his barking disturbed all charms and spells, and 

 frightened away all spectres and apparitions. The Greeks immolated 

 many dogs in honour of Hecate, because by their baying the phantoms of 

 the lower world were disturbed. A great number of dogs were also 

 destroyed in Samothrace in honour of the same goddess. Dogs were 

 periodically sacrificed in February, and also in April and in May, also to 

 the goddess Rubigo, who presided over the corn, and the Bona Dea, 

 whose mysterious rites were performed on Mount Aventine. The dog 

 Cerberus was supposed to be watching at the feet of Pluto, and a dog and 

 a youth were periodically sacrificed to that deity. The night when the 

 Capitol had nearly been destroyed was annually celebrated by the cruel 

 scourging of a dog in the principal public places, even to the death of the 

 animal. 



Many of the Greek and Roman epicures were strangely fond of the 

 flesh of the dog, and those who ought to have known much better encou- 

 raged the use of this food. Galen speaks of it in the strongest terms of 

 praise. Hippocrates says that the meat of old dogs is of a warm and dry 

 quality, giving strength to the eater. Ananias the poet speaks of dog's 



and would tear him to pieces if he did lively and honest courtier. He is here a 



not seek his safety in flight." Vol. i. p. gloomy egotist, and cut off from all human 



353. intercourse without being the less a slave. 



Denon, when in the city of Alexandria, He does not know him whose house he 



in Egypt, says, " I have no longer recog- protects, and devours his corpse without 



nised the dog, that friend of man, the repugnance." Travels in Lower Egypt, 



attached and faithful companion the p. 32. 



