596 
REPORTS ON MOUNTING OE HEAVY ORDNANCE AT MALTA. 
On the 18th the difficult operation of slewing the gun round the narrow 
corner shown in the sketch was accomplished. The tackles shown in the 
sketch were used, being shifted as required to the breech or trunnion of the 
gun. 
The progress next day was slow, owing to the necessity of shifting the 
holdfasts. After the gun was fairly started on the new direction on the 20th, 
considerable progress was made, mainly due to the use of oak planks on the 
top of the skids, whereby the friction was very considerably diminished. 
The same may be said of the 23rd, but on the 24th the progress was not so 
great, mainly on account of deficient power at the winch. 
I accordingly requested some more men, and on the 25th the progress 
increased. This continued all the way to the top of the hill at the convent, 
when a turn to the left had to be made. Knowing by experience the time 
occupied in slewing the gun, I determined if possible to make it move round 
on its rollers by cutting them ; and this operation was performed successfully 
on the same day, on which 90 yds. progress was made. 
Moving towards San Kocco the slope was, for the two days, 30th and 31st, 
very easy, and the progress was satisfactory. As the road after that was 
tolerably smooth I discarded the skids, and continued the progress on two 
thicknesses of oak planks. 
On the 1st of August, as the narrowest part of the road had to be passed, 
I shifted to the 6-ft. 10-in. rollers, and continued the remaining part of the 
journey on them. On some parts of the road there was only 6 ins. to spare 
on each side of the rollers. On the 3rd a rear holdfast had to be made, 
which was accomplished by using the anchor which had been passed. 
The best tackle I found to use as follows 
