112 



Account of the Operations 



tention was again directed to the subject, the experiments ordered to 

 be renewed, and 5,000 rupees granted for this object; with the further 

 assistance of stores from the arsenal, a party of Sappers and Miners, 

 and 50 convicts : and I was directed to superintend the work, which 

 is now in active progress, and promises to be successful, as far as the 

 sum allowed can be expected to go ; and it is now almost certain that 

 a 1 2 feet channel can, and will, be obtained at this point, the gulf of 

 Manar having only this depth for a considerable distance. 



The following Journal details the operations when I was at Pamban : 



Journal. — Feb. 1st 1837.— Embarked on board the native brig 

 Agamud Buksh, with 3 Serjeants, 1 havildar, 1 private of the sappers, 

 and the stores destined for the experiments at Pamban. 



2d. — Anchored at Pondicherry, as there were a great number of 

 passengers for that place, with some cargo, which was engaged to be 

 landed by the evening, Leaving the party on board in charge of the 

 stores, I landed for the purpose of examining the light-house, which I 

 obtained permission to do and take any observation required. It is a 

 plain, but neat, structure, 90 French feet above the level of the sea ; the 

 lights fixed, and of good description. It is altogether well adapted for 

 the purpose, but requires a little more ventilation, as the light appears 

 to become dim after some hours burning. 



3d. — Embarked at 7 a. m., and soon after weighed anchor. 



4th. — At day light offNegapatam, and in the evening took our depar- 

 ture from point Colymere. I directed the Serjeant of the watch to 

 see the lead cast every half hour. The first sounding was 5 fathoms, 

 which soon increased to 6, at which it continued for about 15 miles; 

 then to 7, which held till one in the morning, at which time I made the 

 tindal anchor. As we could not be far from land, if the current was 

 as strong as is generally supposed, we came to in 7 fathoms ; bottom 

 a strong blue clay, unmixed with either sand or coral. On trial found 

 no current whatever, and the next morning a piece of timber, thrown 

 over during the night, was still near the vessel. Ascertained the lati- 

 tude by the meridian altitude of a star, and found we were 17 miles 

 from land. 



5th. — Weighed at day light, and at 10 a. m. were 3 miles from Pam- 

 ban. The soundings now rapidly decreased to 5, 4, and 3 fathoms; I 

 called on the tindal to anchor, which he did ; in swinging round the 

 vessel struck violently, and I found we had only 1| fathoms at the 

 stern. The vessel was hauled off in an hour, the weather fortunately 

 being very moderate, and by 2 p. m. the stores were all in boats. 



6th.— I inspected the detachment, which, with the party I brought, 

 amounted to 1 second Lieut. C. M.Elliott, 5 Serjeants, 1 jemadar, 6 

 non-commissioned officers, 82 sappers, 50 convicts, with some peons 

 belonging to the collector of Madura, * 



