The Central Museum. 439 



antique fragments of Indian monuments,* as also an instruc- 

 tive collection of technical and ethnographical subjects, models 

 of fortresses, ships, agricultural implements, instruments, tools, 

 machines, and native forts. The geological department of the 

 Museum is the v^reakest and poorest department ; and as 

 spirits of wine and glass jars are expensive articles in India, 

 the greatest number of the animals, even the fish and snakes, 

 are simply stuffed. In the garden which surrounds the museum 

 buildings are a considerable number of cages inclosing living 

 animals, such as monkeys, panthers, bears, giraffes, stags, 

 gazelles, cobras, Indian hens, pigeons, marsh-birds, and 

 singing-birds. In addition there were Aquaria with fishes 

 arranged in groups at various spots all round the garden. 

 Of objects of special interest there was a powerful baboon 

 {Pithecus Satyrus), above 5 feet high, fastened to a chain 

 in a large monkey-house, around whom were gambolling 

 a number of smaller species, as also a number of cobras 

 in a large box with glass sides, so that one could examine them 

 at leisure on every side. Here we witnessed the uncomfortable 

 spectacle of a native engaged in cleaning the panes inside 

 the cage and directly beneath these formidable animals, which 

 thronged around him in such numbers that he was continually 

 compelled with one hand to resist their importunate caresses. 

 Anyone not aware of the fact that these animals have been 



* These impoi'tant inscriptions are explained and described in the Selections 

 from the Records of the Madras Government, Report on the Elliot Marbles (p. 191j 

 by R. W. Taylor, Mackas, 1W57. ; 



