1839.] " Report on the Museum of the Asiatic Society:' 427 



entirely by my exertions. When the Orang-Outang* died its owner 

 directed the skin to be tanned, and the carcase thrown away. As I had 

 long had my eye upon it, I soon found out what had been done, hastened 

 to the owner, and by recovering the greater part of the bones (all save 

 a few of the feet, I think) had the pleasure of setting up in the Museum 

 one of the most valuable skeletons in the world. The carcase of the 

 Rhinoceros was sent to Dr. Grant by Mr. J. H. Barlow, who shot him ; 

 Dr. Grant gave it to me, and I presented it, with his consent, to 

 the Society in Mr. Barlow's name. In fact I procured all these 

 specimens by my own exertions (for there was not one in the Museum 

 when I became Curator) as well as the skeleton of the Elephant, which 

 was about being articulated when I gave up the office. 



Besides these things I maintained at my own expense an exten- 

 sive correspondence with various individuals to induce them to send 

 specimens to the Museum ; and represented to the members of the 

 Government, with an urgency which I fear was sometimes thought 

 scarcely becoming, the importance of expeditions undertaken into 

 countries but little known, being accompanied by persons qualified 

 to make zoological collections. For instance, I represented to Sir 

 C. Metcalfe, that the attention of the Assam Tea expedition should be 

 directed as much as possible to this object, and I believe it was in conse- 

 quence of this recommendation, that any zoological collections were 

 made in that expedition. I did the same when Dr. Richardson's expe- 

 dition into the Shan country was contemplated ; and I have reason to 

 believe he would have been accompanied by an officer expressly for 

 this purpose, had he not set out sooner than was expected. In short, I 

 can safely say, I lost no opportunity of acquiring specimens for the 

 Museum, and of advancing zoological knowledge. All this was not done 

 in a corner; but is well known to the President, to some of the Vice- 

 Presidents, and to the Members of the Committee of Papers of the day. 

 And it was done too at a time when an up-hill battle had to be fought. 

 No Government allowance was then given to the Society ; and a great 

 number of the members of most influence were opposed to spending 

 their money on a Museum of Natural History. Indeed so begrudgingly 

 were the necessary expenses bestowed, that I had both years to advance 

 money, every month, for contingent expenses, at my own risk, while I 

 paid the salary of young Nicholas, M. Bouchez's nephew, out of my own 

 pocket, and thus brought him up as another valuable Assistant in 



* Though here called an Orang-Oufang, for want of a name which an English 

 reader can well understand, I believe the specimen to be the female of the Simla 

 Satyrus, the Gigantic Ape shot by Capt. Cornefoot in Sumatra, which was described in 

 the Researches, and whose jaw bone is in the Museum. 



3 K 



