NARRATIVE OF THE SECOND AND THIRD EXPEDITIONS. 41 



sent. Our experience of 1897 showed that it was impossible for Professor Sollas, 

 with a boring apparatus wanting in the above respects, to have bored deeper than he 

 did. In view of our 1897 experience, we were surprised that it was found possible to 

 bore, without an under-reamer, to a depth of over 100 feet in the reef rock of Funafuti, 

 as was done by the Expedition of 1896. 



Our boring experience in New South Wales in rocks other than reef rock has 

 shown that the most difficult and costly type of rock to bore with a diamond drill 

 is any cavernous variety, like vesicular basalt. The small cavities in such a rock 

 cause much splintering of the diamonds and jarring of the diamond-drill machinery. 

 When, however, as proved to be the case at Funafuti, the size of the cavities varies 

 from a fraction of an inch up to over a foot or even several feet in diameter, and the 

 larger of them are filled with running detritus, the difficulties of diamond drilling 

 are immensely increased. 



After the receipt of Professor Judd's letter, we consulted men experienced in 

 diamond drilling as to our chances of success if we attempted another bore at 

 Funafuti, but the hopes they held out were not encouraging. Mr. W. H. J. Slee, 

 however, the Government Superintendent of Diamond Drills, was confident that 

 with projDer precautions the work could be done, and at once promised his cordial 

 support if the Government approved of the jDroposal. Professor Andeeson Stuart 

 and I then attempted to raise the necessary funds. Mr. H. S. W. Crummer, the 

 Hon. Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, co-o^jerated, 

 and the above Society, whose President, the Hon. Philip Gidley King, was 

 formerly a colleague of Darwin on H.M.S. '" Beagle," rendered us valuable assistance. 

 We laid our plans before Senator J. T. Walker, with the result that, after a 

 few weeks' consideration, Miss Eadith Walker, of " Yaralla," Concord, Sydney, very 

 generously subscribed £500 for the Expedition. The Exj)edition having now been 

 brought well within the bounds of possibility, we approached the Government of 

 New South Wales. The Premier, the Right Hon. G. H. Reid, P.O., promised 

 that the Government would suppoi't the undertaking, and the Hon. Sydney 

 Smith, the Minister for Mines, sanctioned the loan of one of the Government 

 diamond drills. We now applied to the Royal Society of London for further 

 pecuniary aid, to which they liberally resjDouded, and meanwhile the late Mr. Ralph 

 Abercromby, the Meteorologist of Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, was good enough to 

 subscribe £100 to the Expedition. 



Preparations were now made for our departure. Special care was taken by 

 Mr. J. S. Leigh of the Diamond Drill Branch, in accordance with Mr. Slee's 

 instructions, to see to the construction of a good type of under-reamer, and the 

 securing of the manufacture of the best type of steel shoes for the lining pipes. 

 Meanwhile I tried to secure the services of some of my Australian geological colleagues 

 for the Expedition. Mr. C. C Beittlebank, of Myrniong, Victoria, who at first 

 arranged to come with us, was eventually prevented, which was a serious loss to the 



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