Poor Pussy has numerous enemies, and there is more reason for the cat's seemingly timorous distrust of every one otitside its own home than many imagine. Callous-minded and unthinking persons are fond of setting their terriers to chivvy every cat that ventures to bask in the sun or innocently enjoy its inquisitive stroll. Occasionally the dog comes off second best in the encounter, and the marauder slinks off howling with his tail between his legs, but if he is trained to rat-killing and can take punishment he often breaks the cat's back and leaves the poor animal in the dust to gasp out its life. Dogs are not the cat's only foe in Hongkong. Coolies steal the animal and sell it, and sometimes they eat it, with the idea that its flesh impyts courage and strength. On the 28th inst. a valuable tom-cat belonging to Mr. Jackson, which had been chased by some dogs at the Peak, took refuge in a tree. Three coolies who witnessed the attack got the cat down and then barbarously killed it with a bamboo, afterwards making a meal off the carcase. The cat was missed, the Police were put on the track, and after some enquiries, discovered the foregoing facts, and arrested two of the cat-eaters. 'The one who slew the animal got clear off, but the other two were, on the 29th inst sentenced to six weeks' hard labour by the Police Magistrate who heard the care. Tt isto be hoped the other brute will yet be captured. A good bambooing would best agree with him, NAVAL NEWS, There has not been much change in the man-of-war anchorage during the past week. The Portuguese transport Africa arrived here on the 24th inst. from Macao. The British cruiser Duphne left here on the 25th for Manila. The Narcissus is having her funnels lengthened and looks odd at present with one considerably higher than the other. The Por, to leave Singapore on the 22nd inst. for Colombo to escort the torpedo destroyers Handy and Hart to Hongkong. There are few war-vessels in port, at the moment, but a good many are expected to arrive soon. Some of the vessels of the British Squadron will be coming down from the north, the French flagship Bayard will shortly pay us a visit, and the Russian ironclad Imperator Nicolas I. is coming here to be docked in a few days.
Hongkong, 31st October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.