96 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



days after his adventure, he occasionally vomited quanti- 

 ties of blue sand. 



When he encountered the elephant, he had a rifle in 

 his hand, but he was too close to fire, knowing as he did, 

 that in case of failure his destruction would be certain, for, 

 when wounded, the desperation of this animal is fatal to all. 

 Upon conveying him to the boat, this rifle was forgotten, 

 and a party of four were despatched to recover it. They 

 had just succeeded, and were about to return, when the 

 elephant rushed in amongst them. The first and second 

 man fired without effect, but the ball of the third fortunate- 

 ly turned him. 



From the number of shots that were discharged, and ap- 

 parently took effect on the hippopotami, the party had no 

 doubt that some were killed. The natives had promised 

 to inform them when the bodies floated on shore; but ex- 

 perience soon showed how little reliance could be placed 

 on the word of these people, when a savoury repast was 

 placedin the opposite scale. An hippopotamushead was dis- 

 covered, the body having been conveyed away, and eaten. 

 This awakened suspicion; our men traversed the bank of 

 the river, and shortly came on a party of natives, who 

 were in the act of cutting up the body of another. This 

 was immediately taken possession of, and conveyed to the 

 schooner, while upwards of three hundred natives on the 

 opposite bank of the river, were showing, by their menac- 

 ing gestures, how averse they were to lose their prize. In 

 this animal three musket-balls had penetrated through the 

 skin, which was one inch and a half in thickness, and 

 lodged between the ribs; the fatal wound in the flank hav- 

 ing been discharged from the rifle of Mr. Jamieson. This 

 beast was of a small size, the head, without the tongue, 

 weighing only two hundred and six pounds. The natives 

 during the hunt were constant attendants, and had by far 

 the largest share of the game. 



[Owen's Voyages on the Coast of Africa. 



CHURCH-GOING DOGS. 



The shepherd's dog is one of the most intelligent and 

 useful of the canine race; he is a constant attendant on his 

 master, and never leaves him except in the performance 

 of his duty. In some districts of Scotland this animal al- 

 ways accompanies him to church; some of them are even 

 more regular attendants than their masters, for they never 

 fail resorting thither, unless employed in tending their 

 charge. It may easily be supposed that to a stranger visit- 



ing one of the churches in the pasture district, their ap- 

 pearance there will excite considerable interest. The first 

 time I happened to be placed in that situation, I was not a 

 little astonished to see with what propriety they conduct- 

 ed themselves throughout the greater part of the time we 

 were in church; but tovvards the close one of the dogs 

 began to show some anxiety to get away, when his master, 

 for this unmannerly conduct, very unceremoniously gave 

 him a kick, which caused him to howl, and to break the 

 peace of the assembly, and, to add to his distress, some of 

 his fellow dogs attacked him, as dogs are wont to do when 

 they hear one of their species howl. The quarrel now be- 

 came so alarming that the precentor was forced to leave 

 his seat, and use his authority in restoring the peace; 

 which was done by means of a few kicks. All the time of 

 this disturbance the minister seemed very little discomfit- 

 ed, continuing his preaching without intermission, which 

 showed that such were not rare occurrences. 



In one parish great complaints were made against the 

 disturbances occasioned during divine service by the quar- 

 relling, or otherwise unmannerly conduct, of the dogs, 

 when it was agreed that all who had dogs should confine 

 them, and not allow them to come to church. This did 

 very well for the first Sunday or so; but the dogs not at all 

 relishing (o be locked up on a day when they were wont 

 to enjoy themselves, were never to be found on the Sun- 

 day mornings to be tied up; they, by some instinct which 

 I cannot explain, knew the Sunday as well as their mas- 

 ters, and set off before them whither they had been in the 

 habit of going on that day. 



It was now evident to the members of the congregation 

 that this plan would not do, and another scheme was laid 

 before them, which was, to erect a house close to the 

 church, in which they might be confined during divine 

 service. This was adopted, and a kennel was accordingly 

 erected, in which the dogs were imprisoned; but the ani- 

 mals being more accustomed to freedom than to confine- 

 ment, took very ill with the restraint put upon their liberty, 

 and set up a most dreadful howling, to the great annoy- 

 ance of the people in the church. They however perse- 

 vered in confining them for a considerable time, thinking 

 the animals would get accustomed to their incarceration: 

 but in this they were mistaken; for, instead of the howl. 

 ing diminishing, it got worse and worse. So it was agreed 

 they should again be set at liberty and have freedom of 

 access to the place of public worship; but their manners 

 had been so corrupted that they were with difficulty re- 

 stored even to their former discipline. 



[Mag. Nat. Hist. 



