136 Public Works in Travancore, [No. 11, new series. 



9th instant, but never in any instance for these last 1 1 years has 

 the rain held off so long as in this, and the roads and beach have 

 always by the end of May been perfectly smooth. To illustrate 

 the perfect smoothness of the roads after the monsoon has fairly 

 set in, a ludicrous event which occurred two years ago, will suffice. 

 During a heavy westerly gale of wind in May 1858, a ship had to 

 call at Allepey for Pepper bound to London, the Captain who had 

 been frequently here before, sighted the light at midnight, and ran 

 from the heavy sea into the smooth water of the road, the small 

 sail they had set was soon stowed and the anchor got ready, the 

 Leadsman being told to report when he got into 4J fathoms, time 

 elapsed, and considering the strong gale that was then blowing 

 right on to the shore, the ship should have been in that water 

 long before, but to every enquiry of the Captain " 6 fathoms" was 

 reported, uutil he took the lead line in his own hand, and discov- 

 ered for the first time, that the ship was aground ! the anchor was 

 let go, and notwithstanding the distance she had over-run she 

 swang at once to the wind, and remained all night until the next 

 afternoon when the wind drawing more to the northward she made 

 sail and stood out to the proper anchorage, remaining there, as 

 she did when aground, still as in the London docks. 



The fall of rain up to this time is only 7 9- 10th inches since 

 April and from the 1st of January 13 inches only. 



Order thereon, 14th July 1860, No. 426. 



1. The Resident of Travancore and Cochin reports that Mr. 

 Collins, appointed Civil Engineer to their Highnesses the Rajahs 

 of the two States, assumed charge of his duties on the 17th April 

 last. Mr. F. Maltby gives a sketch of the works which are under 

 execution or in contemplation under Mr. Collins' supervision. 



2. These are : — 



1st. — The construction of a Light House at the Port of Allepey, 

 the extension of the Canal from the backwater to the Town, and 

 the laying down of a line of Railway from the Canal to the Sea 

 side. These works in progress. Mr. Maltby adverts to the pecu- 

 liar circumstances of the Port of Allepey which render it a per- 

 fectly safe harbour throughout the South West Monsoon, and he 



