276 



SUCCESS OF MY 



The constant fear, that the whole party was now 

 in, was most ludicrous. I was scarcely permitted 

 to sit a moment — here, I was wanted — there, I must 

 go and look, and the other mortar would, perhaps, 

 be actually deserted ; and all arose from a suspicion 

 that an explosion would take place ; water was 

 continually being added, and the least approach to 

 friableness frightened the workmen, as if a hot 

 cinder was about to be thrown into a barrel of 

 dry gunpowder. However, I managed to keep 

 them to their guns until sunset, when they were 

 discharged, without any casualty, from the dangerous 

 duty ; for which, I don't know, if the Negoos has 

 not rewarded some of them for military service. 



After Tinta, scribe, and all were gone, then my 

 anxious moments came as to my success. A small 

 quantity being taken out of the mortar, was placed 

 upon paper near the fire, and soon drying, Walder- 

 heros had the immortal honour of firing the first 

 sample, which flashed off in the most approved 

 manner, much to the delight of Wallata Gabriel, 

 and Goodaloo, and in fact, of us all, and more 

 especially of myself, as I least expected it. 



August 9. — Tinta was at my house, as soon as it 

 was light, and as I had put the evening before 

 a small portion of the damp powder in the frag- 

 ment of a jar, and placed it among the warm 

 ashes of the hearth, sufficient for two charges, was 

 quite dry and ready for proofing when he came. 

 I soon loaded my double-barrelled carabine, and 



