68 



THE MADRAS HARBOUR. 



the difficulties of the surf bank, and the exaggerations of them 

 by the outside critics, were at an end. 



It was while this work was going on that a new evil 

 seemed to threaten us. I have already explained that the 

 tendency of the south-easterly seas prevalent in the south- 

 west monsoons is to drive the sand along the beach to the 

 northward. Where an obstacle is placed, this motion is 

 stopped, and the sand accumulates to the south of the 

 obstacle, and is cut away to the north ; so now, when our 

 surf -bank formed such an obstacle, a large area of beach was 

 found on its southern side, while it was cut away so as 

 almost to threaten the Royapoorum Railway Station on the 

 north. This went on till October, but then the accumulation 

 ceased, and as the northerly seas set in it began to cut away 

 on the south side. For the time, however, it looked rather 

 formidable even to those who had anticipated the action ; but 

 when closely examined and reduced to figures, it was found 

 to be well within the limits which had been reckoned as 

 presenting no serious objection to the scheme, and for the 

 time at least popular apprehension was allayed. 



During the following three months of January, February 

 and March, good progress was made. The concrete blocks 

 were advanced about 300 feet into the sea. But they were 

 not sunk — they could not be— to the depth necessary to 

 prevent the rubble stone on which they lay from being 

 acted on by waves, and this part of the work was of really 

 very difficult execution. As will be evident to any one who 

 visits the spot, the blocks for the first 200 feet at least are 

 very irregular, and I must explain the cause of this. They 

 were laid on the washed down remains of the surf bank, 

 and this was so little below the surface that the sea was 

 constantly breaking on it, and it was impossible for men to 

 stand to level it either with or without the help of diving 

 apparatus. That it was made so regular as it is, is due to 



