1839.] On Wells used in Foundations in Upper India. 337 



riably filled the cylinder with large masses of kunkur, or vitrified brick, 

 without cement of any description,, on the principle, that if the stratum 

 upon which the cylinder rested was at all acted upon or undermined, 

 the masses of loose material would sink and occupy the space caused 

 by the action of the water below ; in fact the hollow cylinders are quite 

 sufficient to support the superstructure placed upon them, the internal 

 space may therefore be well occupied by any means to counteract dan- 

 ger from the vagaries of the stream. 



The varieties of lime procurable between the Himalayas and Delhi 

 are peculiarly favourable to hydraulic works. The beds of the rivers 

 which drain the valley of Deyra, situated between the parent moun- 

 tains and the Siwaliks, are loaded with boulders of lime rock ; the 

 shingle strata of the Siwaliks themselves contain also a plentiful sup- 

 ply ; these, with the main outlets of the Jumna and Ganges provide 

 lime for all the upper portion of this Doab. The boulders are collect- 

 ed and either burnt on the spot, or carried to the works ; in the former 

 instance the cost of the material from the Hills to points between them 

 and the town of Saharunpoor averages as follows : — 



Rs. 



Cost W 100 maunds at the Kiln from 8 to 10 Rs. say, 10 



Carriage of ditto to the works at W mds. 3 to 3 J As. say, 21 14 



Custom levied at the Ghats or 

 passes in the Siwaliks, say, 



j* > i an anna W bullock load 2 2 



Total cost W 100 mds. 34 

 Although this lime is in many cases pure, i. e. crystalline carbonate 

 without admixture — and by selecting the boulders previously to burn- 

 ing may be obtained sufficiently pure for the whitest stucco, or 

 white- wash — the article from the kilns is much adulterated with 

 clays and metallic oxydes, arising from the varieties of lime rock which 

 are thrown into the beds of the rivers. With the use of soorkhee 

 therefore (or pounded brick) this lime makes an admirable water- 

 cement. In wells and foundations I have generally used it in the fol- 

 lowing proportions : — 



2 parts Soorkhee 

 1 ditto Lime, or 



5 maunds, or 400 lbs. of Soorkhee 

 If maunds, or 140 lbs. of Stone Lime 

 mixed well together in a mortar mill before it is used. Above the level 

 of the water I have found it advisable to reduce the quantity of 

 soorkhee ; the cement in this case consists of 



1 h parts of Soorkhee, or 3f maunds 

 1 ditto of Lime, or If maunds. 



