Who owned them? What quarry was the person after? Rats?
An auld boy from our village used to have one or two, he used to be in the merchant navy so I think he brought them back from India.
Once they were tamed they made great pets and he kept them in the hoose, I can remember one greeting at the back door to get oot so very bright animals.
I never seen them work on the rats but I think they would,ve been useful under sheds etc but maybe to big for small tight holes.
The auld boy used to catch the odd adder up the hills and match them against the mongoose, that was a great laugh,