312 Raitaswdut’s Account of the Island and Bridge of 
The edifice was accordingly undertaken, and completed in the year 1821, 
according to a plan, a copy of which accompanies this memoir.* 
The clearing of the island, and other works which I had undertaken to 
execute, proceeded at the same time with the construction of the bridge; 
and the difficulties which I had to encounter were greater and more nume- 
rous than I am able to detail. The climate of the island and surrounding 
country presented an obstacle hardly to be overcome; very many of the 
work-people, all of whom were brought from a distance, died from fever 
and. dysentery ; others were obliged, after having been attacked by sickness, 
to seek recovery elsewhere ; and not a few deserted the works from the fear 
of the diseases, which they saw making such sad havoc among every 
description of workmen. 
To all of them I had been under the necessity of making advances of 
money; and my losses from their deaths, sickness and desertion, were very 
great. ‘The rates at which all my people were paid were necessarily high ; 
and being also obliged to provide them with food, and comforts of all 
kinds, my disbursements were far beyond all my previous calculations, and 
my trials and vexations were almost too great for endurance. 
Having however undertaken the task from a sense of religious and cha- 
ritable feeling, and also with a view to public utility, I persevered, and 
have at length the happiness to think that I have succeeded in many of my 
objects, although at a pecuniary expense of a much greater extent than I 
could have contemplated. 
The jungle has been in a great measure removed, and little is now to be 
apprehended from the climate of the island. The wild beasts have been 
driven to seek other resorts, and the present colonists of the island are 
healthy and cheerful. The soil of the island is bad, being rocky and full 
of loose stones, but cultivation is carried on to a certain extent ; and although 
its continuance must be at much pecuniary loss to myself, it will be per- 
severed in. 
The ancient edifices of religion and charity have been rebuilt and restored, 
and new ones have been erected. 
Hitherto the public utility of the bridge (which has been named the 
Rédmshatuva) has been small, as it has only been used by those who came to 
visit the sacred and charitable establishments on the island ; but the benefits 
* This will account for the want of perspective in the plates. See Plate No. 8. 
