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 Rock-wrasses 
(Zabrus) 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 (7rigla), whose large fins resemble in their 
