WATER OIS ASCEiSblOi^. 131 



or Breakneck, and Dampier's. Iron water pipes were applied for to 

 lay down between the Mountain and garrison, where there were tanks 

 capable of containing 40 tons only. 



" In July 1825 a boring machine arrived, and tanks and reservoirs 

 were commenced on a large scale ; but the latter, from subsequent 

 accounts, seem to have been mere excavations, from which the water 

 soaked away in a few days. 



"Boring was first commenced in 1826 above Middleton's springs, 

 by Colonel Nicolls, without any important results. In 1829, Captain 

 Bate reported the possibility of supplying the African squadron with 

 water, proposing certain measures, and Captain Brandreth, R.E., 

 was instructed by the Admiralty to make a survey and report of the 

 island. He found that the auger of the boring machine had been 

 introduced nearly horizontally in the dii-ection of the substratum, 

 which would merely have the effect of causing the stream to flow 

 more freely without arriving at the source of the spring. Captain 

 Bate had also bored near high-water mark by the advice of a foreign 

 naturalist, and from the wells then made the present supply of salt 

 water is derived. Unsuccessful borings were made in the low lands, 

 and others were recommended in the Mountain district. Captain 

 Brandreth reported favourably on Captain Bate's propositions, and 

 returned to Ascension in 1830. Finding that the stock of water was 

 reduced to 40 tons in consequence of a drought during twelve or 

 fourteen months, he pressed for further experiments in boring, and 

 fixed on a spot high up in the Mountain district, on the weather side, 

 at the bottom of a ravine, the sides of which were 80 feet in height. 

 The strata consist of volcanic matter on beds of clay. The 

 experiment succeeded, and at the depth of 25 feet from the surface 

 a spring was found ; the shaft was sunk 60 feet, and still yields (in 

 1864) from three to four tons daily, even after a long drought. A 

 second shaft was subsequently sunk about 100 yards from the first, 

 and produces an occasional supply only. In the latter end of 1830 

 the main water pipes were partly laid down. 



" Palmer's springs were discovered 500 feet below the drips in 

 Breakneck, and were said to produce 2,000 gallons in 24 hours Two 

 large reservoirs were constructed by building up a deep gorge in 

 terraces, which receive the water from an extensive rocky valley, but 

 there is no spring in my opinion. Drinking troughs have been con- 

 structed here and at Middleton's ; they supply the island-bred cattle, 

 9.nd wild animals with water, which at the latter is brackish, and 

 does not agree with imported beasts. The marines used to take it 



