294 
MINUTES OF PKOCEEDINGS OF 
On a dry day, a declivity of about one in thirty was sufficient to allow 
of the drug, when once started, keeping itself in motion; about twenty 
men were required in rear to keep it in check. 
The drug turned with the greatest facility in streets running at right 
angles to each other, as well as in the most cramped places. 
Owing to the badness of the road on the glacis at Fort Tigne, it was 
found necessary to raise the drug by means of hydraulic jacks and 
levers, and place planks under the wheels; and also at the bottom of 
Strada Forni Valetta, a street having a descent of one in ten, with the 
English Curtain rising from it at a slope of about one in three; in which 
case it was also necessary to use strong tackle to draw the drug up the 
short but steep ascent. 
On two occasions the weight of the gun and drug broke in the top 
of a drain, and also a stone about 9 ins. thick, forming part of the 
covering of a tank ; but no delay occurred on account of this. 
The mules were taken out of the shafts and replaced by six men on 
entering the gate of the town, and in some places at Sleima; but on 
passing over rough ground, it was found necessary to assist them.by 
four or five extra men holding on to steadying-ropes attached to the 
point of each of the outer shafts. 
The washers of the drug were found to be too small for the hooks 
of the parbuckle-ropes used as drag-ropes; iron shackles were made 
and fitted for the purpose. 
On arriving at the battery, the drug was run with the gun muzzle 
foremost into the embrasure. The gun was then lifted by an 18 ft. 
strengthened gyn, and the drug withdrawn. The platform was run 
under the gun by means of a common transporting axle and wheels, on 
which it was balanced so as to allow of the front trucks being dropped 
at once on the front racer. The weight of the rear end of the platform 
was taken by a lever and fulcrum, the wheels and axle withdrawn, and 
the rear trucks were then gradually dropped in their place. 
The carriage, placed on a general service drug, was next run up and 
hauled on to the platform, and the gun dropped into its trunnion holes. 
The operation of mounting the gun took three-quarters of an hour. 
On one occasion an attempt was made to run the platform with its 
carriage on the racers by means of its own special transporting axle; 
but although carried out, the attempt, in point of time, proved a failure, 
owing to the cramped nature of the ground, the great weight to be 
moved—nearly 5 tons—and the width of the axle being too great to 
work easily under the gyn. 
To facilitate the balancing of a platform on an axle and wheels, small 
movable iron bands might be attached to and under the side pieces of 
the platform, in such a way as to allow of their working on a hinge, 
and being easily opened or thrown back. 
The gyn falls of 5-inch rope appear too weak for guns of this weight; 
54-inch rope would be better adapted. 
The guns were slung by a chain in lieu of rope, as the 9-inch rope 
sling was found to stretch considerably. 
Fort Tigne (Plate I.)—The two guns for Fort Tigne were brought 
