AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
lifted his paw, gave him a blow on the side of the head, 
which laid him flat, and then stood wagging his tail, as if 
enjoying the mischief he had committed. He became ex- 
ceedingly attached to the governor, and followed him 
every where like a dog. His favourite station was at a 
window of the sitting-room, which overlooked the whole 
town; there, standing on his hind legs, his fore paws rest- 
ing on the ledge of the window, and his chin laid between 
them, he appeared to amuse himself with what was pass- 
ing beneath. The children also stood with him at the 
window; and one day, finding his presence an encum- 
brance, and that they could not get their chairs close, they 
used their united efforts to pull him down by the tail. He 
one morning missed the governor, who was settling a dis- 
pute in the hall, and who, being surrounded by black 
people, was hidden from the view of his favourite. Sai 
wandered, with a dejected look, to various parts of the 
fortress in search of him; and, while absent on this errand, 
the audience ceased, the governor returned to his private 
rooms, and seated himself at a table to write. Presently 
he heard a heavy step coming up the stairs, and, raising 
his eyes to the open door, he beheld Sai. At that moment 
he gave himself up for lost, for Sai immediately sprang 
from the door on to his neck. Instead, however, of de- 
vouring him, he laid his head close to the governor’s, rub- 
bed his cheek upon his shoulder, wagged his tail, and 
tried to evince his happiness. Occasionally, however, 
the Panther caused a little alarm to the other inmates of 
the castle, and the poor woman who swept the floors, or, 
to speak technically, the pra-pra woman, was made ill 
by her fright. 
the great hall with a short broom, and in an attitude near- 
ly approaching to all-fours, and Sai, who was hidden under 
one of the sofas, suddenly leaped upon her back, where 
he stood in triumph. She screamed so violently as to 
summon the other servants, but they, seeing the Panther, 
as they thought, in the act of swallowing her, one and all 
scampered off as quickly as possible; nor was she releas- 
ed, till the governor, who heard the noise, came to her 
assistance. Strangers were naturally uncomfortable when 
they saw so powerful a beast at perfect liberty, and many 
were the ridiculous scenes which took place, they not 
liking to own their alarm, yet perfectly unable to retain 
their composure in his presence. 
«¢ This interesting animal was well fed twice every day, 
but never given any thing with life in it. He stood about 
two feet high, and was of a dark yellow colour, thickly 
spotted with black rosettes; and, from the good feeding 
and the care taken to clean him, his skin shone like silk. 
The expression of his countenance was very animated and 
good-tempered, and he was particularly gentle to chil- 
She was one day sweeping the boards of _ 
R47 
dren; he would lie down on the mats by their side when 
they slept; and even the infant shared his caresses, and 
remained unhurt. During the period of his residence at 
Cape Coast, I was much occupied by making arrange- 
ments for my departure from Africa, but generally visit- 
ed my future companion every day, and we, in conse- 
quence, became great friends before we sailed. He was 
conveyed on board the vessel in a large wooden cage, 
thickly barred in front with iron. Even this confinement 
was not deemed a sufficient protection by the canoe men, 
who were so alarmed at taking him from the shore to the 
vessel, that, in their confusion, they dropped cage and all 
into the sea. For a few minutes I gave up my poor Pan- 
ther as lost, but some sailors jumped into a boat belonging 
to the vessel, and dragged him out in safety. The beast 
himself seemed completely subdued by his ducking, and, 
as no one dared to open the cage to dry it, he rolled him- 
self up in one corner, nor roused himself till after an in- 
terval of some days, when he recognized my voice. When 
I first spoke, he raised his head, held it on one side, then 
onthe other, to listen; and when I came fully into his 
view, he jumped on his legs, and appeared frantic; he 
rolled himself over and over, he howled, he opened his 
enormous jaws and cried, and seemed as if he would have 
torn his cage to pieces. However, as his violence sub- 
sided, he contented himself with thrusting his paws and 
nose through the bars of the cage, to receive my caresses. 
I suspect that he suffered from sea sickness, as he had ap- 
parently loathed all food; but, after this period, he ate 
every thing that was given to him. 
‘¢ The greatest treat I could bestow upon my favourite 
was lavender water. Mr. Hutchison had told me that, on 
the way from Ashantee, he drew a scented handkerchief 
from his pocket, which was immediately seized on by the 
Panther, who reduced it to atoms; nor could he venture 
to open a bottle of perfume when the animal was near, he 
was so eager to enjoy it. I indulged him twice a week, 
by makingacup of stiff paper, pouring alittle lavender water 
into it, and giving it to him through the bars of his cage: 
he would drag it to him with great eagerness, roll him- 
self over it, nor rest till the smell had evaporated. By 
this I taught him to put out his paws without showing his 
nails, always refusing the lavender water till he had drawn 
them back again; and, in a short time, he never, on any 
occasion, protruded his claws when offering me his 
paw. 
<< We lay eight weeks in the river Gaboon, where he 
had plenty of excellent food, but was never suffered to 
leave his cage, on account of the deck being always filled 
with black strangers, to whom he had a very decided aver- 
sion, although he was perfectly reconciled to white people. 
