THE INDIAN oCEAN. 359 



An effect, scarcely less sublimely magnificent, is 

 produced by the coming in of the periodical spring- 

 tide at the mouth of some of the large rivers of 

 India, which is called the Bore. The rising flood, 

 confined by the narrowing coasts of a deep estuary, 

 takes the form of an immense wave, which comes 

 majestically rolling along, like an advancing cataract, 

 bearing every thing before it. So rapid is its march, 

 that its progress from Hooghly Point to Hooghly 

 Town, a distance of seventy miles, occupies but four 

 hours. At Calcutta the wave is five feet high ; but 

 in the channels formed by the numerous islands in 

 the Burhampooter, its height is twelve feet ; and so 

 terrific is it, that no boat dares to navigate the river 

 at the time of spring-tide. As the middle' of the 

 river, however, is comparatively free from the in- 

 fluence, and only one side, usually, is subject to its 

 greatest violence, the boats and larger craft hasten, 

 on its approach, into the open water of the current ; 

 but if unhappily overtaken, they are inevitably over- 

 turned or swamped, while even large ships, that 

 present their broadsides to its advance, are rolled 

 so violently, that their yard-arms are dipped in the 

 wave. 



The multitudes of fishes of brilliant hues and fan- 

 tastic shapes, that play in the tepid waters of these 

 regions of the sun, are incalculable. Numerous 

 bands of Parrot-fishes (Scarus) and Kock-wrasses 

 (Labras) sport about the reefs, whose bodies are 

 ornamented with crimson, yellow, and silvery tints, 

 often arranged in the form of bands or stripes ; Gur- 

 nards (Triglot), whose large fins resemble in their 



