ACCIDENT AT HURDWAR. 
247 
the river to an extent of several hundred yards. Ac- 
cidents from alligators seldom or never occur so high up 
the Ganges, as those animals chiefly confine themselves 
to the lower parts of the stream, where they find a 
greater abundance of prey. 
The accident which occurred at Hurdwar in the 
year 1 820 arose from the following circumstance. 
From the end of the long street which opens upon the 
gaut, a narrow passage led directly down to the steps. 
This passage declined considerably, and was much 
narrower at the river end than at that which connects 
it with the main avenue. Upon this melancholy oc- 
casion it happened that, when the moment for bathing 
had arrived, for the Hindoos are always great ob- 
servers of times and seasons,” a simultaneous rush 
was made into this narrow outlet, which was filled in 
a few moments. Every year an immense number 
of strangers arrive who have never before visited this 
sacred spot, all eager to perform their ablutions in the 
holy waters on the first great day of the general 
concourse ; and they who had come on this occasion 
being unacquainted with the narrowness of the passage 
to the gaut, thousands of them pushed forwards from 
the rear without any apprehension of mischief. The 
force of the crowd was consequently so great, that 
they who had reached the narrow extremity had not 
sufficient time to extricate themselves from the pres- 
sure, to enable those immediately behind to take their 
place and maintain their position against the progress 
of the living torrent, which bore onward with an irre- 
sistible impetus. The entire passage was filled, and 
