a large river of India, which has its rise in the Western Ghauts, seventy miles to the N.E. of Bombay, and which, with a circuitous curve, flows nearly over the whole breadth of the peninsula in a S.E. direction. After traversing, from W. to E., the British district of Ahmednuggur and the dominions of the Nizam or ruler of Hyderabad, receiving in its course the waters of the Doddna, the Manjara, the Manair, and the Wein Gunga, it crosses the Nizam's frontier into the British district of Rajahmundry through a deep chasm in the Eastern Ghauts, and entering the low tract which appears to have been formed from its alluvial deposits, it separates near the town of Rajahmundry into two principal channels, one of which falls into the Bay of Bengal a few miles south of the town of Coringa, and the other a little below Narsipore, forming between them the island of Nagur, comprehending 500 square miles, and which, being intersected by various ramifications from these rivers, includes several tide-harbours for vessels of moderate burden, and is highly fertile and productive. Ingeram, Coringa, Yanaon, and Narsipore are among the places situated at the mouth of this river, which appears to be the most considerable stream that rises between the Ganges and Cape Comorin. Its whole course may be estimated at nearly 800 miles, having, owing to the peculiar configuration of the Indian peninsula, which rises to its height much nearer the western than the eastern shore, nearly traversed the country from sea to sea. During the rainy season the Godavery rolls a prodigious volume of water towards the ocean, which being economized by means of a dam or annicut thrown across the river at the head of the delta, supplies to the rich alluvial soil the means of constant irrigation during the dry season. The value of this river as an instrument of communication, for commercial and military purposes, has been frequently urged upon the attention of the ruling authorities, and measures for the improvement of its navigation have at length been sanctioned; in many places it is more than a mile in breadth. During the dry season its bed consists in many places of an expanse of sand, the river being divided into numerous shallow streams. Extensive forests of teak trees line the shores of the river until it emerges from the Ghaut Mountains.

GODFATHERS and GODMOTHERS, persons who, at the baptism of infants, answer for their future conduct, and solemnly promise for them that they will renounce the devil and all his works, and follow a life of piety and virtue; and thus bind themselves to see that they be properly instructed in the duties of religion. This custom, which is of great antiquity in the Christian Church, was probably instituted to prevent children being brought up in idolatry in case their parents died before they arrived at years of discretion. The number of godfathers and godmothers is reduced to two in the Church of Rome, and three in the Church of England; but formerly there was no limit to the number.