1837.] 



for widening the Pamban Passage. 



119 



Directed they should in future be divided into small parties, and the 

 work performed measured previous to dimissal. 



10th. The raft proceeded to the main channel, and had made eight 

 holes at seven feet distance, there being already ten ; but some had 

 been covered by the explosion of yesterday. Eleven were loaded, but 

 some of the skins and tubes were again found imperfect. Six only took 

 effect, but the powder in the others was preserved. Those made by 

 sergeants Reardon and White were very good, and reflect great credit 

 on their attention and diligence; a rock of ten tons, which had ob- 

 structed the channel, was entirely removed. 



11th. Continued the work as yesterday. Eight new holes made, 

 and twelve remained of the former work. Eight were exploded with only 

 one failure occasioned by the match going out. Directed the charges 

 to be diminished on all prominent rocks affording good lines of least 

 resistance, as we found the stone broken into small pieces ; fragments 

 of from one to two tons are best for the weighing boats. 



13th. Two rafts for boring were now ready and commenced in the 

 morning. This day fired 70-lbs. of powder, in thirteen charges, all of 

 which succeeded admirably. 



14th. All the most prominent rocks having been cleared out of the 

 centre of the main channel, directed a cut should be commenced from 

 south to north of twenty feet in breadth and three feet deep. This 

 plan has been adopted to prevent the lodgment of sand in detached 

 holes, which is difficult after to distinguish from the rock ; when a cer- 

 tain length is obtained, the current is expected to prevent any lodg- 

 ment. This day seven hundred and nineteen feet of rock were remov- 

 ed ; the work altogether satisfactory. 



15th. Fired fifteen charges or 74-lbs. of powder ; the effect was 

 greater than we had ever before experienced, several blocks of stone of 

 two and three tons each were torn from the bed and projected several 

 yards from the mines. 



16th, This being the Buckreed festival, the Mahomedans had leave, 

 and no divers would work ; two parties of convicts this day worked ex- 

 ceedingly well, and did as much as any other men. Six charges only 

 were fired for want of the divers, and all with good effect. 



Since my last report our progress has been regular and satisfactory ; 

 the men are now accustomed to the work, and perform more than 

 double what they were able to do at first. We formerly raised about 

 300 cubic feet of stone per day ; the return for the last five has shewn 

 700, and, when the catamarans arrive, will probably be 1000. The 

 maximum I think this party capable of performing. 



The experience now gained is sufficient to form a correct estimate of 

 both the expence and time necessary to complete the undertaking, and 



