We at length sailed for England, with an ample supply of provisions; but, unhappily, we were boarded by pirates during the voyage, and nearly reduced to starvation.  My panther must have perished had it not been for a collection of more than three hundred parrots, with which we sailed from the river, and which died very fast while we were in the northwest trades.  Sai’s allowance was one per diem, but this was so scanty a pittance that he became ravenous, and had not patience to pick all the feathers off before he commenced his meal.  The consequence was, that he became very ill, and refused even this small quantity of food.  Those around tried to persuade me that he suffered from the colder climate; but his dry nose and paw convinced me that he was feverish, and I had him taken out of his cage; when, instead of jumping about and enjoying his liberty, he lay down, and rested his head upon my feet.  I then made him three pills, each containing two grains of calomel.  The boy who had the charge of him, and who was much attached to him, held his jaws open, and I pushed the medicine down his throat.  Early the next morning I went to visit my patient, and found his guard sleeping in the cage with him; and having administered a further dose to the invalid, I had the satisfaction of seeing him perfectly cured by the evening.  On the arrival of the vessel in the London Docks, Sai was taken ashore, and presented to the Duchess of York, who placed him in Exeter Change, to be taken care of, till she herself went to Oatlands.  He {39} remained there for some weeks, and was suffered to roam about the greater part of the day without any restraint.  On the morning previous to the Duchess’s departure from town, she went to visit her new pet, played with him, and admired his healthy appearance and gentle deportment.  In the evening, when her Royal Highness’ coachman went to take him away, he was dead, in consequence of an inflammation on his lungs—­Loudon’s Magazine of Natural History.

[1:  The panther in these countries is a sacred, or Fetish,
    animal; and not only a heavy fine is extorted from those
    who kill one, but the Fetish is supposed to revenge his
    death by cursing the offender.]

* * * * *

Manners & Customs of all Nations.

SACRAMENTAL BREAD.

The church of Rome, in the height of its power, was extremely scrupulous in all that related to the sacramental bread.  According to Steevens, in his Monasticon, they first chose the wheat, grain by grain, and washed it very carefully.  Being put into a bag, appointed only for that use, a servant, known to be a just man, carried it to the mill, worked the grindstones, covering them with curtains above and below; and having put on himself an albe, covered his face with a veil, nothing but his eyes appearing.  The same precaution was used with the meal.  It was not baked till it had been well washed; and the warden of the church,