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 now 
