Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-06-01
THE ALLIGATOR HUNT.
Rn q NarnL Officer.

must give snort account OF an alIlSa-
tor hunt, at a place called Nellivelly, near
Trincomalee, got up for the admiraPs eX
press amusement, and performed by corps
Of Malays in the British service, the LIST
Ceylon Regiment Very early in the morn
ing of the 22d September, the party, which
consisted of several ladies and large pro-
portion of red coats and blue coats, were
summoned from their beds 10 set forth OIL
this expedition The admiral, as usual was
up, dressed, and on horseback, long before
any of the rest of the company, whom he
failed not TO scold or to quiz, as they sever
ally crept out of their holes, rubbing their
eyes, and very much doubling whether the
pleasures of the sport were likely to COM
pensate for the horrible bore of early ris-
ing.
In other countries the hour of getting up
may be left 10 choice in India, when any
thing active is 10 be done, it is a matter of
necessity for after the sun has gained even
few degrees of altitude, the heat and dis
comfort, as we'll as the danger OF exposure,
become so great that all pleasure is at an
end This circumstance limits the hour of
travelling and ofeXercise in The east very in
conveniently, and introduces notifications
which helpin no slight degree TO give dis
tinctive character 10 Indian manners. AS
there was little risk of being too late on any
partyo (which Sir SAM. Hood took The lead,
the day had scarcely began 10 dawn when
we all cantered up TO the scene of action
The ground lay as flat as marsh for many
leagues: here and there the plain was spotted
with small stagnant lakes connected by slug
gish streams or Canals, scarcely moving
over beds of mud, between banks fringed
with rank crop of draggIed weeds, and
giving birth to clouds of mosquitoes
The chill atmosphere of the morning felt
30 thick and clammy it was impossible for
the most confident in his own strength end
health not TO think of agues, Jungle fevers,
and all the hopeful family of Malaria The
hardy native soldiers, who had occupied the
ground during the night in despite of the
miasmata, were drawn up to receive the adj
miral-and very queer guard of honor they
formed. The whole regiment had stripped
off their uniform. and every other stitch of
clothing save pair Of short trousers and a
kind of sandal. In place of firelock, each
man bore in his hand slender pole, about
elk feet in length, to the extremity of which
was attached the bayonet Of his musket.-
His only other weapon was the Malay
crease
Soon after the commandments came
to the ground the regiment was divided in
TO two main parties and a body of reserves.
The principal columns, facing one to the
right and the other to the left, proceeding to
occupy different points in one of these slug
gish canals have already mentioned, con
Meeting tho lakes or pools scattered over
the plain These detaChments being sta
toned abort mile from one another, en-
closed at intervals where, from some peculi-
ar circumstances known only TO the Ma
Lays, who are passionately fond of this sport
the alligators were sure 10 be found in great
numbers. The troops formed themselves
across the canal in three parallel lines, ten or
twelve feet apart; but the men in each line
stood side by side, merely leaving room E.
ncugh to WELD their pixies The canal may
have been about four or five feet deep in the
middle Of the stream, if stream it may be
called, when il scarcely moved at all. The
color Of the water when undisturbed was a
shade between ink and coffee but no sooner
had the triple line of Malays set themselves
in motion, and the mud got stirred up. than
the Conscience and color Of the fluid became
like those Of peasc soup.
On every thing being reported ready. the
soldiers planted their pixies before them in
the mud, and, ifI recollect right, each man
crossing his neighbours weapon, and az the
word "narch," away they ali started in full
cry, sending forth a shout, or war wboup
sufficient to curdle the blood Of those on land
whatever effect it may have had on the in
hsbtanls Of the deep. As the two division,
Of the invading army, starting from oppo
site ends Of the canal, gradually approached
each other in pretty close column, scream.
ing and yelling with all their souls, ant
striking their pixies deep in the slime be
fore them, the startled animals naturally re
tired towards the unoccupied centre.
Generally speaking, the alIigators or croc.
odilss (for ] believe they are very nearly