45 
themselves to the water, but wander among the palm trees and low 
bushes, and wherever a sahib discovers a cool retreat, there a large 
alligator is sure to be found, and before a transfer of seat can be 
effected, must be fought and dislodged, or run away from, if he 
charges. Not long since one of them killed a man, upon hearing 
which two officers resolved to take vengeance, and accordingly, in 
spite of military prohibition, shot the delinquent, whereupon all the 
crazy and bigoted inhabitants turned out to avenge the insult, and 
had they not been well armed it would have gone hard with the 
sacrilegious scamps. These holy reptiles are not without their royal 
family, of which, however, there exists at present but one lineal 
descendant, by name moor-sahib, who is the acknowledged king of 
the alligators; although superior to his subjects not only by his 
descent but by his enormous size and appetite, he is but a liliputian 
in size, and a trifler as regards his powers of eating, compared with 
his late sainted and lamented sire, concerning whom the inhabitants 
of the village relate marvels of masticatory prowess. The present 
king does not associate with his subjects, but is built into a large 
underground tank covered above by masonry; in the roof of this 
palace is a hole something like, but rather larger than, that into a 
coal-cellar; when his majesty is to be fed, his attendant thrashes the 
water with a long stick through the hole in the roof; and the well- 
known sound brings him to the surface, where, without condescend- 
ing to unclose his eyes, he opens an enormous pair of jaws and waits 
patiently till the delicate morsel, such as half a donkey or a goat, is 
dropped into them ; the jaws instantly close with a terrific snap and 
the royal personage disappears from sight. 
The rains have just set in here ;—very pleasant for those who live 
in houses, but quite the contrary for poor wretches who, like myself, 
are under canvass; my tent will stand two days’ rain well enough, 
but after that it begins to feel moist, gradually-increasing puddles 
make their appearance below, and water drips in from above; but 
one hot day makes all dry again. After a shower your tent becomes 
the refuge of all the vermin in the neighbourhood; snakes, scor- 
pions, centipedes, frogs and lizards occupy the dark corners, whilst 
all attempts at reading or eating by night are frustrated by the 
countless myriads of large ants, from half to one inch in length, that 
fly into every habitation, and cover the lamps, table-cloth, books, 
&c., smother your shirt and collar, get down your back, and after 
having caused an immense deal of annoyance and inconvenience, 
leave their wings as a parting present and crawl away; so that in 
the morning the tables, chairs, and other furniture, and the floors 
are found strewed with these relics. A very beautiful ground spider 
makes its appearance after the rains; it is about the size of a bean, 
and of the most. splendid scarlet, resembling velvet in appearance 
and lustre; it is seen at no other time, and is apparently driven 
from its underground retreat by the rain. 
Ghiznee, August 15, 1854. 
Ghiznee is not the locality from whence to supply you with much 
information as regards Scinde; its natural products being but few ; 
