KiBiHis A.S Pets. 
311 
parture. A big dog had arrived with its master that very moruiiig, and 
believing that it had just as much right as the covetous aud ambitious 
toucan to the many bones that Adams was throwing out in front of 
the house, quietly took possession of them without ärst Avaiting to see 
whether this would prove agreeable to the bird sitting close by. Hardly 
had the latter noticed this than it angrily sprang upon the impudent 
fellow and pecked it a few times in the head. The chastised dog com- 
menced to growl, but My Lord, not to be frightened at this, mercilessly 
continued digging away with its clumsy beak, until the latter, suddenly 
turning its head round, snapped at the enraged bird and Int it so badly 
as to cause death soon after. We were uncommonly sorry because it was 
really moi-e than ridiculous to see how the little chap w:as not to be 
frightened Ity even the biggest dog or liow energetically (it caused some 
othei" small disobedient kiiave to retire. Amongst such delinquents 
special juention must be made of a rodent, Xat^ua soc'iaJis, called <iuasi 
or Kibihi by the Indians, whirli was so tame that it followed its mis- 
tress's every step like a dog. It lives in small communities and 
defends itself bravely against every attack. When it runs the 
tail is cari'ied U})rlglit. ATIumi cliinbing trees for birds' nests, larvae, 
etc., it uses the forefeet only : dc^scending them, which is always done 
head first, it uses the hind ones only. Eating is just the same as 
with squirrels: the nose is in continual movement, and everything 
thrown to the animal is first of all "poked" with it. In rooting up tlie 
ground for larvae, etc., it uses this and the forefeet at the same time. 
When there is nothing doing in the way of satisfying its inside, it very 
generally whiles away the tedium of existence l)y taking its tail be- 
tween the forefeet and then rubbing and scratching it. It is one of the 
liveliest of animals but unfortunately owing to its disagreeable stench 
makes an equally unpleasant companion for the house. Our Macusis 
told me that on the Mazar-uni tliere is found a con)]iletely Idack and 
larger species, the tail of which is ringed with white. Tlie geographical 
distribution of 'Ydfuia seems to extend over the wliole of Oniana and a 
cnnsidei'able ])ortion of South ATnerica, 
749. Although I did not wisli to hand over my collections au'ain to 
strange hands in view of the hitter experiences that I had had to en- 
dure, and would not now abandon them, the ahsolute want of means 
rendered it at the|same time impossible to let them be carried bv In- 
dians over a piece of country that in all probability consisted of almost 
uninterrupted mountain-rnnr«es. T wns consenuentlT onee more forced to 
part comnany from my brother and let him undertake his journey to the 
sources of the Corentyne with Mr. Goodall alone. Mr. Fi-yer and T bad 
to return to Pirara to fetch the living plants, es]>ecially a comprehensive 
collection of ])alms and orchids that we.'had left beliind there, as Avell as 
the meteorological and astronomical instruments \^'hich my brother had 
likewise been unable to take with him. 
750. According to oni- reckoning, the coloured people whom, on the 
last occasion they had come to Pirai-a, we had instructed to return hy the 
lieginning of June to take us down the danfrerous Essequibo. must also 
now have arrived at Wai-ipukar-i Inlet, However painful Ihe separa- 
