164 WANDERINGS IN 



THIRD Now. this contus was a tough light pole, eight feet 



JOURNEY. 



- long, on the end of which was fixed an old bayonet. 

 I never went into the canoe without it ; it was of 

 great use in starting the beasts and snakes out of 

 the hollow trees, and, in case of need, was an 

 excellent defence. 

 Last con- J n 1819, I had the last conversation with Sir 



versation 



with sir Joseph Banks. I saw with sorrow that death was 



Joseph 



Banks. going to rob us of him. We talked much of the 

 present mode adopted by all museums in stuffing 

 quadrupeds, and condemned it as being very 

 imperfect; still we could not find out a better 

 way ; and at last concluded* that the lips and 

 nose ought to be cut off, and replaced with wax ; 

 it being impossible to make those parts appear 

 like life, as they shrink to nothing, and render the 

 stuffed specimens in the different museums horrible 

 to look at. The defects in the legs and feet would 

 not be quite so glaring, being covered with hair. 



stuffing I had paid great attention to this subject for 



birds and ., ... . 



quadrupeds, above tourtecn years ; still it would not do : 

 however, one night, while I was lying in the 

 hammock, and harping on the string on which 

 hung all my solicitude, I hit upon the proper 

 mode by inference ; it appeared clear to me that 

 it was the only true way of going to work, and 

 ere I closed my eyes in sleep, I was able to prove 

 to myself that there could not be any other way 

 that would answer. I tried it the next day, and 

 succeeded according to expectation. 



