6 On Abyssinian Tube Wells. 



about an inch and quarter or inch and half long. The ring 

 is screwed on to the first length of the pipe, and the second 

 length is screwed into the ring, till the two ends of the pipes 

 meet. By this connection the joints of the pipe become 

 probably the strongest parts of it. The first length of 

 the pipe, owing to the addition of the driving solid iron 

 point, is nearly seven feet long. When this is driven into 

 the ground, leaving only a few inches above the surface, the 

 ring is screwed tightly on with a gas-fitter's tongs. I may 

 here mention that I would recommend that two of these 

 tongs should be got, because in screwing the lengths of the 

 pipe on tightly, the part driven into the ground will turn 

 round if not held back. When the ring is screwed fully 

 down, the next length of the pipe is screwed into the ring, 

 and the driving is recommenced till the end of the second 

 length is only five or six inches above the surface, and so 

 the work of driving goes on. I may mention that 

 Mr. Danks recommends, that when screwing in the different 

 joints, the screws should be smeared with white lead. I 

 have adopted his suggestion. In order to protect the top 

 of the pipe as well as the driving block from injury by the 

 blows in driving, Mr. Danks has fitted a cap which screws 

 on to the ends of all the pipes, and offers a level surface 

 to the monkey or block. He ingeniously devised the 

 plan of having a little block of wood inside this cap. 

 When the cap is screwed down tight, the wood presses on 

 on the top of the pipe, and at one and the same time 

 prevents jar on the pipe, and prevents the screws being 

 injured by stripping. Care should be taken never to omit 

 putting this block in, nor to omit screwing the cap well 

 down on it, otherwise the cap may fasten on the top of the 

 pipe, and not screw off again, owing to the thread of the 

 screws being injured. When one length is driven the cap 

 is taken off and screwed on to the top of the next length, 

 after the latter is connected with that already in the ground. 

 Now as regards the driving. This can be managed by 

 any handy man about a station, with the assistance of two 

 labourers to haul up and down the monkey, &c. The 

 apparatus may be of the rudest kind. My arrangements 

 are as follows : I took three pieces of quartering about 

 eighteen feet lono\ and 3" x 3/ These were erected over 

 the spot selected for the pump, so as to form a triangle 

 to hold a double pulley block for hauling the driving block 

 up and down on. For the driving block I used a piece of a 



