use the deck was constantly filled with black
persons, to whom he always manifested a decided aversion. I have already
mentioned his rage at seeing a chimpanzee and monkeys, and only
secondary to this was the approach of pigs, whom he seemed to long to
devour.

On the voyage to England direct, I thought he would have been starved to
death; for we were boarded by pirates, who took almost all our
provisions away, of course including our live stock, and if it had not
been for the numerous parrots in the vessel, Sai must have met with a
melancholy death. Some died daily as we came into colder climates, and
he was allowed one each day. It was just enough to keep him from
starving, and this sometimes made him seize it so ravenously, that he
did not give himself time to pluck off the feathers; these in process of
time formed a hard substance within the intestines, which made him very
ill, he refused even his small portion of food, and I thought would have
died; but I made some pills of calomel, butter, and flour, and put them
very far down his throat, while his particular attendant, one of the
cabin boys, held his jaws open. The boy slept in the cage with him all
night; and the next morning, I administered a further dose, which
effected his cure.

Having, after a long absence from England, no accommodation for such an
inmate, we, as speedily as possible, sought a home for him. He was
presented to the duchess of York, who boarded him at Exeter Change, till
she herself was going to Oatlands. I visited him more than once; and it
was only by stratagem that I could get away without his following me.
One morning the duchess called and played with him, when he appeared to
be in perfect health. In the evening, when her coachman went to fetch
him, he was dead, and his malady _said_ to be inflammation of the lungs.

The Panther is considered as a sacred animal on the Gold Coast; and the
priests demand a fine for each one that is killed; consequently, they
and leopards (if there be any difference) are numerous, and occasionally
commit much mischief. They leap over high walls, or stockades, and take
away the sheep and goats kept within, leaping back with them in their
mouths. They come into the streets of the towns or villages at night,
where I have often seen them jumping about, and chasing each other. Our
chief surgeon had a house on the outskirts of the forest, that he might
enjoy more room than he could have in barracks; and one nig