286 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



With an aversion as decided as it is unjust for a 

 species of animals which, in despair of imitating 

 him, man has constituted the symbol of an unalter- 

 able fidelity and attachment, the Turks have a great 

 partiality in favour of cats. Mahomet was fond of 

 them. It is related of him, that being called away 

 on pressing and important business, he chose rather 

 to cut off the sleeve of his robe, than disturb a cat 

 which lay asleep on it. Nothing more was neces- 

 sary to render these animals an object of very high 

 consideration, though their extreme cleanliness, the 

 purity and lustre of their fur, their soft tranquillity, 

 their calm and reserved caresses, had not otherwise 

 rendered them amiable beings in the eyes of the 

 Mussulmans. The cat accordingly is not excluded 

 from their mosques ; she is welcomed there as the 

 favourite animal of the prophet, and as the enemy 

 of other troublesome animals; whereas a dog that 

 should presume to enter into their temples, would 

 pollute them by his presence, and incur instant 

 death. But obliged to flee from men, to whom 

 he would desire to consecrate his domestic qualities, 

 and the perfection of his instinct, no dog is tempted 

 to resort to the places where men assemble ; he 

 would then have neither master to follow, nor 

 friend to accompany. 



In ancient Egypt cats were held in great venera- 

 tion, but dogs were still more so. When a cat 



died 



