Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/141

1837.] Directed they should in future be divided into small parties, and the work performed measured previous to dimissal.

10th. The raft proceeded to the main channel, and had made eight holes at seven feet distance, there being already ten; but some had been covered by the explosion of yesterday. Eleven were loaded, but some of the skins and tubes were again found imperfect. Six only took effect, but the powder in the others was preserved. Those made by sergeants Reardon and White were very good, and reflect great credit on their attention and diligence; a rock of ten tons, which had obstructed the channel, was entirely removed.

11th. Continued the work as yesterday. Eight new holes made, and twelve remained of the former work. Eight were exploded with only one failure occasioned by the match going out. Directed the charges to be diminished on all prominent rocks affording good lines of least resistance, as we found the stone broken into small pieces; fragments of from one to two tons are best for the weighing boats.

13th. Two rafts for boring were now ready and commenced in the morning. This day fired 70-lbs. of powder, in thirteen charges, all of which succeeded admirably.

14th. All the most prominent rocks having been cleared out of the centre of the main channel, directed a cut should be commenced from south to north of twenty feet in breadth and three feet deep. This plan has been adopted to prevent the lodgment of sand in detached holes, which is difficult after to distinguish from the rock; when a certain length is obtained, the current is expected to prevent any lodgment. This day seven hundred and nineteen feet of rock were removed; the work altogether satisfactory.

15th. Fired fifteen charges or 74-lbs. of powder; the effect was greater than we had ever before experienced, several blocks of stone of two and three tons each were torn from the bed and projected several yards from the mines.

16th. This being the Buckreed festival, the Mahomedans had leave, and no divers would work; two parties of convicts this day worked exceedingly well, and did as much as any other men. Six charges only were fired for want of the divers, and all with good effect

Since my last report our progress has been regular and satisfactory; the men are now accustomed to the work, and perform more than double what they were able to do at first. We formerly raised about 300 cubic feet of stone per day; the return for the last five has shewn 700, and, when the catamarans arrive, will probably be 1000. The maximum I think this party capable of performing.

The experience now gained is sufficient to form a correct estimate of both the expence and time necessary to complete the undertaking, and