122 



Account of the Operations 



[JULT 



This renders it doubtful if the force of the current alone, even with 

 the aid of an embankment, would be sufficient to increase the depth, 

 bound as the soil is by the roots of weeds. An embankment, however, 

 if extended to the shore, would throw a much greater body of water on 

 this point, and if a passage was at the same time opened by dredging, 

 the current would I think be sufficient to prevent its again filling up. 

 The expence of this, beyond the purchase of a dredging machine, and 

 the vessel to work it, would not be great, to save expence the embank- 

 ment should be made of piles, cut near the spot, and filled up with 

 loaded fascines, also procurable from the thorn trees which cover the 

 whole island, many of which are sufficiently long and straight to an- 

 swer this purpose of piles; the wood is hard, heavy, and lasts better 

 than teak under water. The crooked timbers of large cargo boats are 

 generally of this wood. 



This strikes me as the only plan likely to give a moderately deep 

 passage, without a very heavy expence, and is not liable to any un- 

 certainty but what must exist in the execution of all works exposed to 

 the action of the sea. The extent to be thus excavated is only four 

 hundred yards, and the embankment double ; but much of the latter is 

 in very shallow water, where long piles would not be required. 



Another plan, suggested by Major Sim, of cutting a canal through 

 the eastern part of the reef, I fuund liable to much greater uncertainty, 

 though it had a flattering appearance at first view ; it would require 

 greater labour than the main channel, and, when completed, be of dif- 

 ficult access. 



The improvement of this passage I therefore consider as confined to 

 a depth of twelve feet, high tide, which is, however, a very important 

 object, and can be attained at a moderate cost. 



I now proceeded to examine the site fixed on as presenting the great- 

 est facility for the excavation of a canal, and, after following the line of 

 coast for a considerable distance, returned to the spot where the sea 

 forced a passage in 1814, and which is in every respect the best adapted 

 for the purpose. Commencing from the southern side of the cut, I 

 found the sea clear of rocks, and deepening rapidly to eighteen feet, 

 which is obtained at four hundred yards from the shore, and continues 

 till it joins the inner passage to the coast of Madura. This point forms 

 an extensive basin, well sheltered from all winds, where vessels could 

 anchor with safety, and immediately in front of the passage, leading 

 into the open sea, with a depth of eighteen and twenty feet, which in- 

 creases after passing the chain of islands and reefs to five and eight 

 fathoms; bottom, coral rocks, with a few spots affording anchorage on 

 beds of mud and sand. 



The party I left on shore had succeeded in clearing away the thorn 

 bushes, so as to afford an open view of the nullah, which is nearly on a 



