Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/329

 and current, being in both monsoons, along shore at Madras, the above feathered lines would take the same direction, and oppose a serious line of obstacles to the direct approach of a boat; but I imagine that this would be nearly entirely neutralised by the force of the surf. At any rate, the lines never could be deflected beyond the diagonal of the two forces, so as to admit of the passage being made obliquely and between two lines. Or, if the wind and current should drive them parallel to the shore (a thing most improbable) they could easily be depressed in succession by a manor two in the bows of the boat.

"Of course oars could not be used in such a breakwater, and the transit would require to be made from the shore to the line of outer cable, by tracking ropes stretched between them, admitting of much more expedition than oars."

I again express my confidence that the highest surf would be subdued in passing through afield of such construction,that a pier could be run out the necessary length into such a floating breakwater, without difficulty, and without after-risk from the surf, when formed;and to guard the cargo boats from the rise and fall of the wave, (which though unbroken must be expected to continue,) a series of little docks could be made beneath the pier to receive them and insure their being still enough to admit of loading and