d, and wrapped in
linen, and then buried with religious rites, at Bulastes, a city of
Lower Egypt, being placed in a sepulchre near the altar of the principal
temple.

"The Mohammedans have an extraordinary reverence for them; and a
traveller, of whom I once read, saw at Damascus a hospital for cats,
which was a large building walled around, and said to be full of them.

"This singular institution, well supported by public alms, originated in
the fact that Mahomet brought a cat to Damascus, which he kept carefully
in the sleeve of his gown, and fed with his own hands. He even preferred
cutting off the sleeve of his robe, rather than to disturb the repose
of his favorite, who had fallen asleep in it.

"I remember a curious story, which is told of Cambyses, a Persian
general, who conquered Thebes by placing in front of the Persian army a
corps of cats, giving to each of his soldiers, employed in the attack,
instead of a buckler a live cat, and other animals venerated by the
Egyptians.

"Not daring to advance upon these animals, the Theban garrison fell, as
the wily Persian commander anticipated, an unresisting prey to his
stratagem."

"And do you remember," said Mrs. Lee, to her husband, "that Moncrieff
says an insult offered a cat by a Roman was the cause of an insurrection
among the Egyptians?"

"Yes, and the same writer states that even after death, these animals
were held so sacred, that they were often deposited in the niches of
the catacombs. If they were killed, even by accident, the murderer was
given up to the rabble to be buffeted to death.

"Now, Minnie, that I have made so long a speech, for your benefit, on
the high esteem with which cats have been regarded, I will read you a
most remarkable instance of the sagacity of one of them."

"In the summer of 1800, a physician of Lyons was summoned to court, and
requested to inquire into a murder that had been committed on a woman in
that city. He accordingly went to the residence of the deceased, where
he found her extended on the floor, and weltering in her blood.

"A large white cat was mounted on the cornice of the cupboard, at the
farther end of the apartment, where he seemed to have taken refuge. He
sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on the corpse, his attitude and
looks expressing horror and affright.

"The next morning the room was filled with officers and soldiers; but
still the cat remained exactly in the same position, entirely
undisturbed by