1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 375 



A detail of the early part of these operations, which commenced in 

 October last, would comprise little hesides a narrative of difficulties barren 

 of facts scientifically interesting. It will he sufficient briefly to state, that 

 in the first attempt a depth of 136 feet only was attained by boring- ; when 

 the same quicksand which in every case seems to have baffled General 

 Garstin's efforts to proceed, put an end to this also. — The tubes, without 

 support in the loose sand, separated in several places, and fell out of the 

 perpendicular ; all attempts to rejoin or recover them failed. 



As the same strata, and consequently in so much as that is concerned, 

 the same difficulties might be expected to occur in boring in any part of 

 the alluvial formation of the delta of the Ganges, it was not supposed 

 that any material advantage would be gained by changing the site of 

 operations; it was resolved to proceed with a second attempt in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of that where we had just failed. 



On the 28th of April another shaft was commenced ; experience had 

 suggested several improvements in the arrangement of the machinery, and 

 taught us to use the tools with better effect. The improved skill of iim 

 workmen was made manifest by the fact, that the depth of 126 fe^-t, 

 which in the first attempt occupied forty-seven working days to attain, 

 , was now reached in eighteen with ease and facility. 



So far the strata passed through, corresponded precisely, in their order 

 at least, with all that had occurred on former occasions. The same quick- 

 sand which caused the abandonment of the first attempt was reached at 

 120 feet ; and at this point our difficulties commenced. To obviate the 

 disaster which had rendered our labour abortive in the first instance, 

 the tubes were secured against dislocation in the loose sand by screws at 

 their joints ; and to this precaution must be attributed the success of 

 the work so far. The sand alluded to is of so loose, 1 may say, semifluid 

 a character, that on the removal of a portion of the water which stands 

 in the tube to 15 feet from the surface, it immediately rose 17 feet ; and 

 although at this time the work was prosecuted night and day without 

 any intermission, the sand rose faster in the tubes than it could be remov- 

 ed; so that at the end of eleven days and nights of incessant toil it had 

 risen from 124 to 103 feet. 



Hence it became evident that the only mode of overcoming the ob- 

 stacles presented by the sand was to force the tubing down, until coming 

 in contact with some firm stratum, the sand should be excluded. By unre- 

 laxing perseverance and much labour, frequently gaining but a few inches 

 in the day, the tubes at last attained a depth of 157 feet. The sand was 

 gained upon ; at 152 feet it was observed to become darker in color and 

 coarser in grain, containing a quantity of what appeared to be small pieces 

 of iron ore*. At 159 feet a stiff clay with yellow veins occurred, resem- 

 bling in appearance a thin stratum passed at 127 feet. The borer, which 

 during the prevalence of the sand was always behind the tubing, some- 

 times several feet, now penetrated in advance of it, and in less than 24 

 hours reached the depth of 175 feet. 



The clay at 163 feet changed, for a short space, remarkably in color and 

 substance ; becoming dark, friable, and apparently containing much vege- 

 table and possibly some ferruginous matter. At 170 feet it became sandy, 

 and gradually passed into a very coarse sharp sand mixed with small frag- 

 ments of quartz and felspar, which was brought up from 175 feet. 



This gravel or shingle at present impedes further progress, until we 

 shall have made some auger capable of penetrating and lifting the stones. 



* Red waterworm nodules of hydrated oxide, like the kterite of South In- 

 dia. — Ed. 



