SUPPLY OF WATER ON ASCENSION. 133 



" Extensive troughs lined with Roman cement have replaced the 

 odds and ends of old sheeting, preventing waste and increasing the 

 yield of water. 



" The wells which were sunk in the spots selected by Captain 

 Brandreth are worked by hand pumps daily, and produce sufficient 

 water for the consumption of the Mountain after many months of 

 drought. I am, therefore, of opinion that the upper one is supplied 

 by a bona fide spring, and without it much inconvenience would be 

 frequently experienced. 



" The roofing surface has of late been greatly increased, and iron 

 tanks have been placed in convenient places for the supply of the cow- 

 house and stables, by which both manual and horse labour are saved. 

 " Finding that a considerable rush of water from the mountain roads 

 found its way into Dampier's tank in a very muddy state, large 

 cisterns have been constructed, with underground drains between 

 them, the last being connected with the main pipes just below the 

 Mountain reservoir. A great mass of mud and cinder is deposited by 

 these means, and the water eventually reaches its destination in a 

 comparatively clean state. In connection with this arrangement all 

 the upper roads, which were composed of soft light cinder, liable to 

 be washed away, are being paved with durable stone. 



** The drip at Dampier's is scarely worth taking into account, as it 

 dries up soon after the rain ceases, and produces nothing when most 

 required. 



" To prevent the waste necessarily caused by frequently running 

 down small quantities of water from the main tank at Dampier's 

 (Bate's), drinking troughs have been sunk on the spot and are supplied 

 by means of a small fire engine. 



" The cattle that are not being stall-fed are driven in every morn- 

 ing for food and water ; and there have been no losses amongst the 

 imported cattle since this system has been adopted. 



"In 1861 Dr. Normanby's distilhug apparatus arrived in H.M.S. 

 * Isis,' and in the beginning of 1863 pipes were laid down to it from 

 the sea, affording an ample supply of salt water, which is pumped up 

 a height of 25 feet by means of a simple and ingenious contrivance 

 of Mr Smith, the superintending engineer. A small eccentric on the 

 shaft of the donkey engine works a number of levers which pump the 

 salt water into a tank, and the fresh water into a reservoir when the 

 receiver is full. By attaching a strap to the fly-wheel a chaff cutter 

 is also worked in an adjacent building. The produce of water is 

 about one gallon per minute, 



