100 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
observing how numerous., as well as mighty in form 
and horrible of aspect, were the alligators with which 
the waters of this sacred stream abound, especially 
in the more level country through which it urges its 
majestic course. It is astonishing to see the havoc 
which these monsters make yearly among the native 
population, and yet with what perfect apathy they 
are regarded. They seem to excite neither fear nor 
apprehension. They lift up their huge dark bodies 
before the boats, which may be said to swarm upon 
this beautiful river, as if in defiance of human power, 
and with a consciousness of their own terrific endow- 
ments. They sometimes wallow in the shallows with 
their heads turned towards the sun in all the indolent 
repose of familiar luxury, regardless of any thing but 
the stronger among their own species. It is here, 
however, that they suffer the most signal retribution 
for their cruel and fearless devastations, as they are 
frequently shot in this defenceless position, when the 
only penetrable parts of their bodies are exposed to 
the deadly aim of the matchlock or the rifle. An 
immense animal was killed by the tindal* of our 
budgerow, basking upon a bank, upon which the boat 
struck almost immediately after. It measured fifteen 
feet and a half in length. A considerable time elapsed 
before we got our budgerow off the bank. 
The budgerow is a large, unwieldy, flat-bottomed 
boat, with eighteen oars, more or less, and a lofty 
poop, covering nearly three fourths of its entire length, 
under which are two capacious cabins, with Venetian 
* A sort of coxswain, to whom is entrusted the management 
of the boat. 
