IN THE PACIFIC. 37 



"Mr. James Hodges, representing the con- 

 tractors, Messrs. Brassey, arrived in Callao in 

 August, 1870, for the purpose of carrying out 

 the contract. 



" Upon taking borings, it was found that the 

 foundations instead of being upon gravel, as 

 represented, were upon mud about twenty feet 

 deep ; in consequence of this it was necessary 

 to excavate the bed of the bay to the depth of 

 some sixteen feet. The space so excavated was 

 filled up with rubble, stone, and gravel up to 

 within twenty feet of low water mark, thus 

 forming an artificial foundation, upon which 

 the concrete blocks forming the dock walls 

 were built. 



" The total length of these walls is 4520 feet ; 

 they enclose a space of nearly fifty-two acres, and 

 provide over 5300 feet of berthing accommoda- 

 tion, sufficient for twenty-five to thirty large 

 ships. In addition to the dock a long sea-wall 

 was built, which reclaimed from the shallow 

 waters of the bay about thirteen acres. This 

 space has been drained, formed into streets, and 



