440 Voyage, of the Novara. 



rendered harmless by the extraction of their poison-fangs, must 

 experience a feehng of terror and astonishment at the sight 

 of this brood of mahgn, stealthy-moving, hissing serpents, 

 with a naked Hindoo in their midst ! 



Most astonishing and gratifying is the immense number 

 of casual visitors that frequent this institution for advancing 

 education. The book for inscribing names lying in the 

 Museum, showed for a single month no less than 36,522 

 visitors, mostly natives, and this it seems has been about 

 the average number since the foundation of the Museum. 

 There is also a small, valuable library, which, by means of 

 purchases, gifts, and exchanges, is being visibly added to with 

 each year, and is accessible to visitors of all classes, the custo- 

 dian and inspectors being all natives. 



The Madras Literary Society, an offshoot of the Royal 

 Asiatic Society in London, and now reckoning but a small 

 number of associates, publishes from time to time the most 

 valuable information as to the latest achievements of science in 

 India, and serves in a measure as a medium by which to 

 compare the intellectual progress of Asia and Europe. To the 

 members of this society the naturalists of the Novara Expedi- 

 tion are specially beholden for their great attention during 

 their stay in Madras, as also for their hearty participation 

 in the objects of the Imperial Expedition as evidenced by their 

 sending copies of their own various and useful publications. 



There are in Madras numerous institutes devoted to the 

 diffusion of useful knowledge among the masses, part founded 



