Of Ships and Rats

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 151, 15 May 1942, Page 3

Of Ships and Rats

E of the most amusing pets of my personal acquaintance in the navy was a white rat, which belonged to the Hotspur, of Narvik fame. He had travelled quite a long way when I met him, for his owner had bought him in Alexandria, from a " gilly-gilly" man-

in’ other words, a native of Egypt who will show one almost anything there is to see, at slight profit to himself, of course. There are dozens of these men, in fact I should probably be more accurate if I

said hundreds, and apparently this particular gilly-gilly accosted our friend after he had dined. The dinner had been a _ bit of a celebration and consequently he was feeling very mellow and happy when he suddenly noticed a white rat peeping out from the gillygilly man’s clothing. It was popping in and out and generally being rather unexpected, so perhaps our friend was not to blame for wondering whether it really was there at all. Having been reassured on this point, he insisted that he must have it, and as his companions could not dissuade him, the sale went through then and there, and the rat changed hands.-

(" Pets in the Navy." Mrs.

O.J.

Gerard

2YA, April 24.)