164 
THE RAT. 
upon the mail's arriving at Demerara, the rats had devoured 
the will, leaving nothing but the seal behind. 
The following circumstance will give some idea of their 
consumption of food on board ship, and also their numbers. 
On the return of the man-of-war ship Valiant from the 
Havanna, its rats had increased to such an alarming degree, 
that they destroyed above a hundredweight of biscuit daily, 
besides other food that came in their way. The ship was at 
length smoked between decks, in order to suffocate them, 
and six hampers were filled daily for some time with rats that 
had been thus killed. In this case these creatures had been 
daily devouring more food than 112 sailors; or over a ton and 
a half of biscuits monthly ; to say nothing of other articles. 
In the Isle of France rats have been found in such 
prodigious swarms, that the place was completely aban- 
doned by the Dutch on account of their overwhelming 
numbers. The author of " A Million of Facts," speaks 
very positively on this point, by stating most emphatically 
that the numbers of rats drove the Dutch from the 
Isle of France. In some of the houses they were so 
numerous that 30,000 have been known to be killed in a 
single year. They have subterraneous hoards both of corn and 
fruit, and frequently climb trees, to devour the young birds. 
At sunset they may be seen running about in all directions, 
and in a single night commit such devastations, that a 
French traveller says he has seen a whole field of 
Indian corn in which they have not left a single ear 
remaining. 
The public journals, some thirty years since, were filled 
with the most alarming and distressing accounts from Yan 
Dieman's Land. The vermin had come down in such 
immense hordes upon the cultivated grounds, and were 
increasing so fast, that they threatened destruction to the 
entire settlements. But I am most credibly informed, that 
two ship-loads of rat-killing dogs were sent out from 
England to the settlers, which had the effect of saving them 
from all the horrors of famine. 
With respect to rats in India, I heard of a lady who 
some years ago had married a military officer, and left this 
country for India. The lady was delighted with the 
country and the social circle into which she was introduced. 
