The Memoirs of Bābur 932.11.1

932.11.1

The water-hog (P. _khūk-ābī_, _Platanista gangetica_, the porpoise) is another. This also is in all Hindūstān rivers. It comes up suddenly out of the water; its head appears and disappears; it [Sidenote: Fol. 282.] dives again and stays below, shewing its tail. Its snout is as long as the _siyāh-sār's_ and it has the same rows of small teeth. Its head and the rest of its body are fish-like. When at play in the water, it looks like a water-carrier's bag (_mashak_). Water-hogs, playing in the Sarū, leap right out of the water; like fish, they never leave it. Again there is the _kalah_ (or _galah_)-fish [_bāligh_].[1823] Two bones each about 3 inches (_aīlīk_) long, come out in a line with its ears; these it shakes when taken, producing an extraordinary noise, whence, seemingly, people have called it _kalah_ [or _galah_]. The flesh of Hindūstān fishes is very savoury; they have no odour (_aīd_) or tiresomeness.[1824] They are surprisingly active. On one occasion when people coming, had flung a net across a stream, leaving its two edges half a yard above the water, most fish passed by leaping a yard above it. In many rivers are little fish which fling themselves a yard or more out of the water if there be harsh [Sidenote: Fol. 282b.] noise or sound of feet. The frogs of Hindūstān, though otherwise like those others (Tramontane), run 6 or 7 yards on the face of the water.[1825] (_l. Vegetable products of Hindūstān: Fruits._)