OliDKU V. THE CAUNlVOPvA. 55 



sniiio fur speed in pursiiinij; griiiie ; some were useful only fur tlieir viijiliince 

 and barking, and t)tliers for tlieir courage in holding ferocious animals at 

 Iiay. So large a pack was not, indeed, maintained without adding greatly 

 to our care and trouble in supplying them with meat and water, for it was 

 sometimes difficult to procure for them enough of the latter; Init their ser- 

 vices were invaluable, often contributing to our safety, and always to our 

 ease, by their constant vigilance, as we felt a confidence that no danger 

 cciuld approach us at night without being announced by their barking. No 

 circumstances coidd render the value and fidelity of these animals so con- 

 spicuous and sensible as a journey througli regions whicli, abounding in 

 ■\\ild beasts of almost c\ery class, gave continual opportunities of witnessing 

 the strong contrast in their habits, — between the ferocious beasts of prey 

 which fly at the approach of man, and these kind, but too often injured 

 companions of the human race. !Many times, when wc have been travelling 

 over plains wliere tiiose have fled tiie moment we appeared in sight, have I 

 turned my eyes towards my dogs to admire their attachment, and felt a 

 grateful affection towards them for preferring our society to the wild lil»crtv 

 of other quadrupeds. Often, in the middle of tiie nigiit, wlien all my 

 people have been fast asleep around tlie fire, have I stood to contemplate 

 these faitiiful animals lying by their side, and have learned to esteem them 

 for their social inclination to mankind. When wandering over pathless 

 deserts, oppressed with vexation and distress at the conduct of my own 

 men, I ha-\e turned to tliesc as my only friends, and felt how much inferior 

 to them was man when actuated only by selfish views. 



"The famiharity whicli subsists between this animal and our own race, is 

 so conmion to almost every country on the glol)C, that any remark upon it 

 nuist seem superfluous ; but I cannot avoid believing that it is the uni\'ersal- 

 ity of tiic fact which j)revents the greater part of mankind from rcHecting 

 duly on the suijject. "While almost every other quadruped fears man as its 

 most formidable enemy, here is one which regards him as his companion, 

 and follows him as his friend. We must not mistake the nature of the 

 case : it is not because wo train him to our use, and have made choice of 

 him in preference to other animals, but because tliis particular species 

 feels a natural desire to be useful to man, and from spontaneous impulse 

 attaches itself to him. AVere it not so, we should sec, in various countries, 

 an equal familiarity with various other quadrupeds, according to the habits, 

 the taste, or the caprice of diflcrent nations. But everywhere, it is the 

 do<j only that takes delight in associating with us, in sliaring our aliode, and 

 is evxin jealous tliat our attention should be bestowed on liim alone ; it is he 

 who knows us personally, watwiies for us, and warns us of danger. It is 

 impossible for the naturalist, when taking a survey of the whole animal 



