202 TlMEHRI. 
Above the Tortoises is seen the head of the colonial 
" Waterhaas" or Capybara (Hydrochoerus capybara), a 
large semi-aquatic animal belonging to the same order 
(Rodentid) as the rat, rabbit and labba. It is the largest 
of the rodents, and may be described as being a gigantic 
guinea-pig — attaining a length of about four feet. The 
head is the only portion of the animal in the Museum. 
A picture of the beast is given on the adjacent chart of 
animals. 
On the right is the entrance to the Museum proper. 
Over the doorway hangs an old oil painting representing 
a scene in the interior. The scene is one of extreme 
beauty ; and though no information is attached to the 
painting, it was evidently the work of some one pos- 
sessed of considerable artistic ability and gifted with 
high poetic feeling. The contrast presented by the 
Indians in the painting is, moreover, a very interesting 
one. In the foreground, on the right, is a picture of 
industry, the Indian at his " dug-out" ; behind, Indians 
in their hammock enjoying the dolce far niente ; while 
on the left, apart, sits a solitary individual, looking the 
pi6lure of misery, as though he had eaten food or drunk 
paiwarrie ad nauseam, and was suffering accordingly. 
The costumes seem to denote that civilisation had 
already considerably modified the pristine simplicity of 
the Indians' dress. 
Above the painting is seen a very fine skin of a large 
Land-camoodie [Boa constrictor). It is about fourteen 
and a half feet in length, and is the largest in the Museum. 
Specimens of this species, however, are said to reach a 
length of twenty-five feet, while its close relative, the 
Water-camoodie {Boa murind) the largest of snakes, 
