118 DR. HOOKER'S MISSION TO INDIA. 
At 81 A.M. it suddenly fell calm, and we proceeded to Chakuchee, 
the native carts breaking down in their passage over the projecting 
beds of flinty rocks, or as they hurried down the inclined planes which 
we cut through the precipitous banks of the streams. Near Chakuchee 
we passed an alligator, just killed by two men,—a foul beast, about 
nine feet long, and of the Mager kind. More interesting than its 
natural history was the painful circumstance of its having just swal- 
lowed a child, that was playing in the water, while its mother was 
washing her domestic utensils in the river. The brute was hardly 
dead, much distended by its prey, and the mother standing beside it. 
A very touching group was this! the parent, with her hands clasped 
in agony, unable to withdraw her eyes from the cursed reptile, which 
still clung to life with that tenacity for which its tribe are so noted, 
and beside her the two athletz leaning on their bloody bamboo staffs, 
with which they had all but despatched the animal. 
The Butea frondosa is in full flower here, and a gorgeous sight. In 
the mass its inflorescence resembles sheets of flame: individually 
the flowers are eminently beautiful, their bright orange-red petals 
contrasting brilliantly against the jet black velvety cal 
By the river I found species of Gnaphalium, Paronychia, Tamariz, 
a dwarf Acacia-like Phyllanthus, Wahlenbergia, Campanula, Sagittaria(?), 
Vallisneria, and Lepidium, Docks (Rumex Wallichii) in abundance, 
Carices, and many other herbaceous plants. Tortoises abound on the 
rocks, but pop into the water when disturbed. 
The nests of the Megachile (leaf-cutter bee) were in thousands on 
the cliffs, with Hphemeras, caddis-worms, spiders, and many preda- 
ceous beetles; Lamellicorns are very rare, even Aphodius, and of 
Cetonie Y did not see one. 
The poor woman who lost her child earns a scanty maintenance by 
making Cafechw. She inhabits a little cottage, and has no property 
but two Bhiles (oxen) to bring wood from the hills, and a very few 
household chattels ; and how few these are is known only to persons 
who have seen the meagre furniture of Dangha hovels. | Her husband 
cuts the trees in the forest, and drégs them to the hut; but he is now 
sick; and her only son, her future stay, was he whose end I have just 
related. Her daily food is rice, with beans from the beautiful blue- 
flowered Dolichos, trailing round the cottage; and she is in debt to 
the contractor, who has advanced her two rupees, to be worked off in 
