CAT CUSTOMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 16

CAT CUSTOMS

Cats have played a very important part in the history of the world. lu e ancient Egyptians have left undeniable records ot their great appreciation of the useful qualities of the cat. It was also kept by our ancient kings for hunting, and the officers who had charge of them were known as “catatores’’ and held appointments of equal consequence with the masters of the king’s hounds (says a contributor to the Edinburgh "Weekly Scotsman"), lloet the Good, who died, in the year 948, after a reign of 33 years over South Wales, and eight years over the whole Principality, made laws to preserve and establish the price of cats. A kitten before it could see was valued at one penny—which coin was of much more value than'it is now. Until it was able to catch a mouse it was valued at twopence, whilst a seasoned mouser was worth fourpence, which' was also the price of a calf. It was required that it should be perfect in its senses of hearing and seeing, have the claws whole, and be a good nurse, as on failure of these qualifications the seller was to give up to the purchaser one-third part of its value. Anyone who stole a cat that guarded the prince’s granary was to forfeit a milch ewe, its fleece and lamb, or as much wheat as when poured on the cat while suspended by the tail with its head touching the floor, would form a heap high enough to cover the cat. The Egyptians would not kill a cat, they held it in so much reverence. It is said that Cambyses, King of Persia, and son of Cyrus the Great, once took an Egyptian city by furnishing each of his soldiers with a live cat instead of a buckler, as the Egyptians rather thau injure the cats, allowed themselves to be taken. The cat was supposed to have been brought to Britain from the island of Cyprus by the traders who visited Britain for tin. In the island of Cyprus there is a cape called Cat Cape, from the fact that, in ancient times, thei-e was a monastery there, the monks of which were obliged by their vows to maintain a great number of cats in order that they might make war against the serpents that infested the island. In the old days an ancient custom used to exist in Kelso when all the farmers then met in the market-place once a year, at the sound of a drum, about 11 o’clock in tho forenoon. The meu who took part in the ceremony came well mounted and armed with large clubs. After all had assembled they took their way accompanied by a band to a common field. There a cat was put into a barrel partly filled with soot, which was hung up between two poles. The men then rode in succession under the barrel, striking it as they passed with their clubs. In time tho barrel would fall to pieces, aud amid shouts of laughter at tho pitiable plight of the cat the poor feline was clubbed to rteath.