214 



THE RAT. 



had gnawed through thirty-two doors; and many 

 of the oaken window frames were irreparably in- 

 jured by them. While I was in Guiana, a Dutch 

 lady, named Vandenheuvil, had given me a young 

 tiger-cat, which one of her negroes had taken that 

 day in a coffee field. It was the marjay, which, 

 by the by, Buffon considers untameable. I raised 

 it with great care ; and it grew so fond of me, that 

 it would follow my steps like a dog. Nothing 

 could surpass the dexterity with which this little 

 feline favourite destroyed the rats on our reaching 

 home. Towards the close of day it would ascend 

 the staircase ; and no sooner did a rat make its 

 appearance from the casements, than it would spring 

 at it with the velocity of an arrow, and never fail to 

 seize it. In 1828, having got, by long experience, 

 a tolerably good insight into the habits of this 

 tormenting quadruped, and having found that it 

 spoiled or pilfered every thing within its reach, I 

 finally resolved that it should look out for another 

 place of residence. Wherefore I carefully searched 

 for all its various entrance holes. These I effectually 

 closed with stone and mortar. I then filled up all 

 useless sewers, and paid great attention to the 

 paving and renewing of those which were absolutely 

 required ; fixing, at the same time, in either end of 

 them, a cast-iron grate, movable at pleasure. The 

 bottoms of all the outer doors were done with hoop 

 iron ; and the pavement which goes round the house 

 was relaid . with particular care. By these pre- 

 cautions, I barred all access to these greedy in- 

 truders ; and, as no rubbish or lumber is aow 



