AND LOWER EGYPT. 281 



CHAP. XVII. 



Egyptian dogs — Cats — Beautiful animal of this genus 

 reared by the Author — Domestic animals — Man- 

 gouste, or ichneumon — Species of tortoise of the Nile, 

 hostile to the crocodile. 



Amidst the population of Rossetta there exists 

 a horde of animals which, repelled by man, to 

 whose personal use nature seems to have destined 

 them, are nevertheless incapable of deserting him ; 

 and, as it were in defiance of his unkindness, per- 

 sist in rendering him service. In all ages, and 

 among all civilized nations, the dog has merited, 

 if I may presume to say so, to enter into alliance 

 with mankind. Savages themselves, who scarcely 

 live in societv with each other, rear the canine 

 race, and share with them the labours and the 

 fruits of the chase. From a ridiculous prejudice, 

 the offspring of a religion still more ridiculous, 

 the Mahometans alone hold this animal in abhor- 

 rence. With them he is an unclean beast, which 

 they will not admit into their houses, which they 

 carefully shun, and which they dare not touch, un- 

 der pain of becoming themselves unclean. Hence 

 a judgment may be formed of the full import of 



the 



