240 
On procuring a supply 
[Aug. 
might be stopped out so as to prevent their intermixture. From the facts he had 
collected, he entertained a confident expectation that a supply of good water would 
be found here as it had been elsewhere, notwithstanding the brackishness of the 
surface springs. The Government authorised some experiments to be made on 
the subject, which, though not so conclusive as could have been wished, owing to 
the imperfect manner in which the art of boring was practised in this country, did 
yet establish, to the General's satisfaction, the fact of the existence of fresh-water 
springs at a considerable depth, and covered by a stratum so impervious to water, 
as to prevent the possibility of their mixing with the brackish surface springs. 
The facts, I think, fully beat out General Garstin’s opinion, and justify the pro- 
secution of a search after them at a time when good boring irons are in store in 
abundance, and the operation itself is so much better understood than it was at 
that time. 
In December 1804, I believe the first attempt was made to penetrate to the 
lower springs. The depth attained on the 4th January 1805, was, however, only 
75 feet, and the water proved to be brackish 3 . 
In August the same year they were resumed. In each case, immediately under the 
surface deposit, stiff tenacious clay was found, with brackish springs at from 60 
to 80 feet; and below those, at a depth of 128 feet, hard rock, as was evident from 
the sharp edge and decided polish given to the augur, an effect never resulting from 
the friction of clays, however tenacious. The irons being made in Calcutta, and the 
screws of an inferior quality, they broke at this stage of the experiment, and 41 
feet of rods, which could not be extracted, were left fixed in the bore. Sufficient 
evidence, however, was obtained of the nature of this hard bottom being calcareous. 
A third attempt being made, the depth attajned was only 55 feet ; in a fourth 59; 
and in a fifth 65. In a sixth experiment, continued from December of the same 
j'ear to February 1806, they penetrated to 127 feet ; when, the rods breaking, 91 feet 
of them remained in the bore. Here also, it was evident, the rock had been attained. 
The water afterwards rose within five feet of the surface. In a seventh trial, the irons 
again broke at a depth of 91 feet. The eighth was commenced on the 15th March 
1806, and on the 29th of May he had penetrated to a depth of 127£ feet. Here he 
came upon the usual hard stratum, the augur being sharpened like a knife. 
Another tool, with a triangular point was applied to the irons, and an attempt made 
to penetrate the rock. Small bits were brought up, which effervesced with acids, 
but apparently the method of getting through solid rock 4 was not very well under- 
stood at that time, and the operation was at last abandoned as hopeless. Water 
also rose in this hole and was well tasted. 
It is to be remarked, that in all these bores water rose within a few feet of the 
surface. M as this the effect of the deep seated springs ? and if so, how did they 
penetrate the solid rock. The only way I can account for this curious result is, 
that this rocky or hard bottom appeared to be more of the nature of cancar than 
of really solid, and continuous rock. Now we know this substance is generally in 
nodules or kernels imbedded in a stratum of far inferior tenacity to that of even 
indifferent clay ; and that something of this kind was the case, is further evident 
fiom the fact of its always being found more or less moist, while the superincum- 
bent clay was always perfectly dry throughout the greater part of its thickness. 
A still more singular fact is, that the water remained at a considerable height dur- 
ing the hot months, when the neighbouring wells, fed by the surface springs, were 
at a very low ebb, and on one occasion of a tire, when they were all drawn perfectly 
try, the water in the bores maintained a high level. It is, I think, difficult to ac- 
count for these facts, except on the supposition of their being fed by the deep 
seated spring rising through the cancar stratum, and prevented escaping laterally 
by the clay which reaches within a few feet of the surface. 
General Garstin soon after relinquishing the above attempts, returned to England, 
but so satisfied was he of the grounds they afforded for a confident expectation of 
mining water, that he proposed making every exertion when thereto obtain efficient 
means for prosecuting the experiment to a more successful issue. His death soon 
aner las return to this country was to be regretted, inasmuch as there is little 
oouht that be would have eventually succeeded in demonstrating to the people of 
a cu a, t ic practicability of obtaining amplefsupplies of good and wholesome water, 
is exertions had proved, however, so far useful, that a new and effective ap- 
4 For- a more particular detail of these operations, see vol. I. p. 167 cl seq. 
rods w/o j S * OMe ^ ?■ *°°* something like a large chisel attached to the end of the 
primer vih pended in such a manner, that a single workman can give them the 
«he ‘loose piceJremovcJ by «%P«1 mi afterward. 
