THE MASTIE'P. 221 



A most extraordinary instance of memory in a 

 Mastift' is related by M. D'Obsonvillc. This Dog, 

 which he had brought up in India from two months 

 old, accompanied himself and a friend from Pondi- 

 cherry to Benglour, a distance of more than three 

 hundred leagues. " Our journey (lie continues) 

 occupied nearly three weeks; and ^^e had to traverse 

 plains and mountains, and to ford rivers, and go 

 along several bye-patlis. The aniinal, which had 

 certainly never been in that country before^ lost us 

 at Benglour, and immediately returned to Pondi- 

 cherry. He went directly to the house of M. Bey- 

 lier, then commandant of artillery, my friend, and 

 with whom I had generally lived. Now the dif- 

 ficulty is, not so much to know how the Dog sub- 

 sisted on the road, for he was very strong and able 

 to procure himself food ; but how he should so well 

 have found his way, after an interval of more than 

 a month * ! This was an effort of memory greatly 

 superior to that which the human race is capable of 

 cxertino;." 



The Mastiff is extremely bold and courageous. 

 Stow relates an instance of a contest between three 

 Mastiffs and a Lion, in tlie presence of King Jamics 

 the First. One of the Doos, beino; y^ut into the 



O ^ Ox 



den, was soon disabled by the Lion ; which took 

 him by the head and neck, and dragged him about. 

 Another Dog was then let loose ; and was served in 

 the same manner. But the third, being put in, imme- 

 diately seized the Lion by tlie lip, and held hiui 



* D'Cb-onviilc, 74. 



