SEWER RATS. 
183 
as anybody else, thongli he had chosen a career replete with 
dreariness and filth. In an assault case, heard before the 
magistrates at the Clerkenwell Court, Jumper appeared as 
a witness. He said that he was a rat-catcher by profes- 
sion, and caught rats in the sewers for those gentlemen who 
keep sporting dogs. When he had an order, he went forth 
with a bull's-eye lantern, a strong wdre cage, and a short 
rake ; then, entering the main sewers at the foot of Black- 
friars Bridge, he waded his way, " waist-deep," in muck and 
filth of the description which the closets and sinks of London 
furnished. With the rake he disturbed the creatures in 
their hiding-places, which, becoming dazzled with the light, 
fell an easy prey, and were forthwith caged. 
It appears, however, that it is not to brown rats only 
that Jumper devotes his time and industry. There are 
gold and silver rats, in the shape of purses, watches, rings, 
and plate, which are of far more importance to him than 
brown rats. On one occasion he found a silk purse filled 
with gold and silver coin ; on another, a gold watch and 
seals, he is constantly picking up silver spoons, rings, and 
other articles of value which may be accidentally dropped 
or thrown down the drains through carelessness, or pitched 
down the gratings in the streets by swell-mobsmen, pro- 
stitutes, or minor pickpockets when pursued. 
Jumper's underground journeys extend for miles. He 
has been under i^ewgate, and along Cheapside, to the Man- 
sion House, and has traversed from Holborn to Islington, 
closely inspecting all the various stinking tributaries which 
fall into the main sewers of the mighty metropolis. It is 
declared that he knows more about the sewerage of London 
and its condition than any other living man ; and that, upon 
the strength of such qualification, he would make an excellent 
chairman of the Board of Commissioners sitting in Greek 
Street. 
Some time ago Jumper took an apprentice for a month, on 
liking, prior to being bound to the profession. His name 
was Harris ; he had been bred to the horse-slaughtering 
business ; and having gone through such a course of prepara- 
tion, he might be supposed to have lost the sense of smell 
and delicacy of stomach sufficiently to enable him to enter 
upon his new occupation. After a month's trial, however, 
