Blasting Rocks. 



In blasting rocks bad accidents frequently occur 

 through the inexperience of estate coolies, and often 

 of their employers ; it will, therefore, be useful and 

 appropriate to give here some instructions as to 

 how the work may be done safely. 



Several implements are required: first, "jump- 

 ers/' for boring the holes, generally octagonal steel 

 bars, sharpened at the end like a stonemason's 

 chisel ; next, some good strong hammers, and 

 long-handled iron scoops or spoons for cleaning 

 out the bores, as the stone dust accumulates in 

 them. 



Coolies are usually tasked to make 36 inches of 

 bore per diem ; but, unless practised hands, they 

 will hardly be able to keep up to this ; indeed, in 

 hard, granitic rocks, one will often have to rest 

 satisfied with 20 to 24 inches. 



As soon as the bore is finished, it should be 

 cleaned out with the scoop, and carefully wiped 

 throughout its entire length with tow. Once per- 

 fectly clean and smooth, the ramrod comes into 

 requisition ; this is generally made of iron, though 

 some metal less liable to cause ignition by friction 

 would, if sufficiently hard, be safer and more satis- 

 factory. Down the side of the ram-rod runs a 

 groove, to receive the fusee, while the process of 

 loading is going on. 



A ball of clean dry tow or torn " gunny " cloth 

 K 2 



