626 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



VISIT TO SUEEEY ZOOLOGICAL GAEDENS. 



The next morning we had an appointment to visit the Surrey Zoological Gardens, and 

 having the greatest curiosity to witness the mutual surprise there might be exhibited 

 at the meeting of wild men and wild animals, I was one of the party. The interview, 

 in order to avoid the annoyance of a crowd, had been arranged as a private one. We 

 were therefore on the spot at an early hour; and as we were entering (the doctor, with 

 his j ingling dress and red face, being in advance of the party, as he was sure to be in 

 entering any curious place, though the last to leave if there were ladies behind) we 

 were assailed with the most tremendous din of "There! there! there!" "Cockatoo! 



cockatoo ! ' ' and ' ' ! ' ' and fluttering of wings of the poor affrighted parrots that 



were pitching down from their perches in all directions. I thought it best that we 

 should retreat a few moments until Mr. Cross could arrange the front ranks of his aviary 

 a little, which he did by moving back some of their outposts to let us pass. We had 

 been shown into a little office in the mean time, where Mr. Melody had very prudently 

 suggested that they had better discharge as many of their rattling gewgaws as possible 

 and try to carry into the ground as little of the frightful as they could. Amusing jokes 

 were here heaped upon the doctor for his extreme ugliness, which, as Jim told him, had 

 terrified the poor birds almost to death. The doctor bore it all patiently, however, and 

 with a smile, and partially turned the laugh upon Jim with the big mouth by replying 

 that it was lucky for the gentleman owning the parrots that Jim did not enter first, for 

 if he had the poor man would have found them all dead, instead of being a little alarmed 

 as they then were. 



We are now entering upon the greatest field for the speculations and amusement (as 

 well as astonishment) of the Indians that they were to meet in the great metropolis. 

 My note-book was in my hand and my pencil constantly employed-, and the notes that 

 I then and in subsequent visits made can be allowed very little space in this work. 

 All were ready, and we followed Mr. Cross, the Indians, fourteen in number, with their 

 red faces and red crests, marching in single file. 



PEIGHT OF THE BIEDS AND BEASTS. 



The squalling of parrots and barking of dogs seemed to have announced to the whole 

 neighborhood that some extraordinary visitation was at hand; and when we were in 

 front of the lions' cage their tremendous bolts against its sides and unusual roar an- 

 nounced to the stupidest animal and reptile that an enemy was in the field. The ter- 

 rible voice of the king of beasts was heard in every part and echoed back in affrighted 

 notes of a hundred kinds. Men as well as beasts were alarmed, for the men employed 

 within the grounds were retreating, and at every turn they made amidst its bevrflder- 

 ing mazes they imagined a roaring lion was to spring upon their backs. The horrid 

 roaring of the lions was answered by lions from another part of the garden. Hyenas 

 and panthers hissed, wolves were howling, the Indians (catching the loved inspiration of 

 nature's vdldness) sounded their native war-whoop, the buffaloes bellowed, the wild 

 geese stretched their necks and screamed, the deer, the elk, and the antelopes were 

 trembling, the otters and beavers dived to the bottom of their pools, the monkeys were 

 chattering from the tops of their wire cages, the bears were all at the summit of their 

 poles, and the ducks and the geese whose wings were not cropped were hoisting them- 

 selves out of their element into quieter regions. 



The whole establishment wa-s thus in an instant " brushed up," and in their excite- 

 ment prepared to be seen to the greatest possible advantage; all upon their feet and walk- 

 ing their cages to and fro, seemingly as impatient to see what they seemed to know was 

 coming as the visiting party was impatient to see them. 



