104 ALLIGATORS IN THE INDUS. 



sweeps, each, requiring about twenty men. The 

 decks on such occasions were crowded with re- 

 tainers in gay apparel, and the pavilions cover- 

 ed with scarlet cloth, with the Ameers' standards 

 floating at the stern. The steersman, who occu- 

 pied an elevated position on the top of the stern- 

 most pavilion, being responsible for the safety of 

 his royal masters, was considered a most import- 

 ant personage. 



As we ascended the Indus we observed 

 numerous alligators, or rather I should say 

 crocodiles, or gmTyals, not the maggur of In- 

 dia, as also abundance of ducks, geese, and wild 

 fowl, much resembling those of Egypt, and I 

 am mistaken if I did not see several specimens 

 of the Ibys. One morning indeed, just as we were 

 getting up om' steam, a large alligator dashed 

 out from under the paddle-box. Towards even- 

 ing we occasionally saw some gaunt wolves and 

 many mangy-looking jackals, ranging the 

 banks in quest of food. Apropos of wolves, up- 

 wards of 600 poor children are reported to have 

 been destroyed by wolves around Lahore and 

 Sealkote in 1855. 



About thirty miles above Hyderabad we 

 passed Hala, a place celebrated for its beautiful 



