316 SPORTING AND 



which had been carried on the top of my 

 palanquin during the journey, and amused 

 myself by shooting wild duck and widgeon 

 on the river ; and, as people, when travel- 

 ling dak in India always have an extra 

 coolie to carry the petarahs (boxes made of 

 tin,) which hold a good many clothes, 

 besides other necessaries, one is always 

 well provided wherever one is obliged to 

 stop, and the palanquin forms a house and 

 bed combined. 



Before starting that morning I went to 

 look at the alligator and felt very much 

 inclined to believe, that if he had been 

 shoved into the river, then and there, he 

 would have floundered off into deep water, 

 and disappeared to frighten other alligators 

 who should have seen our friend swimming 

 about without his head ! I crossed quite 

 comfortably after breakfast and arrived at 



