44 
Ghiznee Sanatarium, July 15, 1854. 
It may be interesting to you to know that a fine Houbara Bustard 
(Otis Macqueeni) is very common here during the winter; it is 
much sought after by the officers, and considered fine “ shikar”’ or 
sport ; my tent is pitched in the midst of the Houbara ground. A 
very pretty small species of deer is also common in this neighbour- 
hood ; it is about the size of a gazelle, with sharp straight horns, is 
very difficult of approach, and incredibly fleet; I suppose it is well 
known; will you inquire, and let me know its name? the young are 
sold in the Bazaar at one rupee each and soon become very tame ; 
I have one now that is allowed to wander about at pleasure, and 
which invariably comes to sleep in my bed at night : any number of 
beautiful Amaduvades may be bought in the Bazaar at one penny 
per pair, and Parrots at fourpence each; if the means of transit were 
easy, I could send home a gross of these small birds. 
I will now give you a short account of an excursion to a well- 
known spot called ‘“Munghur Peer” or the ‘ Munghur Talou,” 
Anglice Holy Alligator or the Alligator Tank. Some time ago, a 
very holy mussulman pitched upon this oasis as his dwelling-place ; 
a pure spring flows from a rock in a valley surrounded by immense 
barren volcanic hills, forming part of that range of rugged mountains 
which is seen so conspicuously from Kurrachee ; the spring above 
mentioned vivifies a small extent of surrounding country, nourishes 
groves of date palms and banian trees, and encourages the cultivation 
of various fruits and vegetables ; the old gentleman, finding that he 
had fallen into a good berth, sanctified it: here he lived and died, 
after which happy release his body was conveyed to the top of an 
awfully high rock and there buried ; his faithful disciples erecting a 
large tomb over his remains: this is said to be a fine work of art, 
but I have seen no one who has had the courage to ascend and in- 
spect it. The spring after his death became more holy than before, 
and a tolerably-sized mosque was built over it ; a large stone tank 
with steps was constructed for it to flow into, and the overflowing 
surplus water now forms a marsh or pond which is full of small 
islands a few feet distant from each other, and it is in the water be- 
tween these that the alligators are to be found; there are several 
hundreds of them, varying in size from 6 inches to more than twice 
as many feet; they live in a state of great fraternity; their calm 
serenity being only disturbed by that most useful dispensation of 
providence, the larger devouring the smaller ones; they are con- 
sidered most holy by the mussulmen and are actually worshipped by 
‘them ; in which, however, they slightly depart from the precepts of 
the Koran, which says, ‘‘ La Ala ila allah—Mahomed rasoul allah,” 
the famous profession of the mussulman faith. From most of the 
districts of Scinde, the natives make pilgrimages to these beasts, 
throwing goats to them as peace offermgs; the inhabitants of the 
small village adjoining the mosque feed them regularly, and are great 
in the odour of sanctity. Should a little native urchin be swallowed, 
through his indiscreetly venturing too near, they say his is a happy 
kismet or fate, for he is sure of paradise. The brutes do not confine 
