218 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
sagacity altogether surprising. It is no uncommon 
thing to see these ereatures plunge into the water and 
select the finest fish in a shoal, which they pursue 
with the most patient perseverance until they suc- 
ceed in capturing it. Having secured the fugitive, they 
immediately make for the shore and lay it on the 
bank at the feet of the fisherman, who rewards them 
for their perseverance with a fish of inferior hulk, 
but, no doubt, in the estimation of these dumb fish- 
catchers, of as good a flavour. They are valuable 
assistants to those who take the trouble to train them, 
in rendering the employment of these latter, which is 
generally laborious and seldom very profitable, much 
more lucrative than it would otherwise be. The poor 
Hindoos are exceedingly partial to them, and treat them 
with great kindness : of this the otters appear to be 
fully sensible, as they are not sparing of their energies 
for the benefit of their protectors, for whom they toil 
with a readiness which would almost indicate a con- 
sciousness that they are promoting the interests of 
those who always act towards them with the greatest 
tenderness. They are kept without the least expense, 
procuring their own food in the rivers, and requiring 
little or no care. They live in the huts of those who 
tame them, allowing the children of their owners to 
play with them like so many dogs, being equally 
harmless and tractable. Though extremely fierce in 
their natural state — so much so that few dogs will 
venture to attack them, — when domesticated they are 
docile to the last degree. They swim with such 
rapidity, that their finny prey seldom escape when 
pursued by them. 
