The greater part of these men had been here since the 18th of January, and had been fully employed in the erection of work-shop, store-houses, barracks, an hospital, and huts. The buildings were well adapted for the purpose; the men were allowed to lodge themselves, which was preferable to the plan proposed of providing a barrack, which I had intended, thinking, as this was only a temporary duty, the men might not bring their families.
The building originally intended for the sepoys will become, when finished, available for the lodgment of the convicts. It is advancing very slowly; as we are obliged to bring clay from a distance of two miles, a sufficient party cannot be spared for the purpose. It is not of much importance, the convicts being lodged in a choultry, which is more secure.
Ordered part of a stone-roofed passage in the old fort to be repaired, as a magazine for the gun-powder. Only one sick in the detachment of 90 men.
7th. Examined the country for three, miles round to ascertain what materials were procurable: found abundance of dwarf jungle, but the trees, almost entirely Mimosa, with branches shooting out at right angles to the stem, which is generally twisted, very difficult to work, and too heavy to form rafts. Lime and free stones plentiful, and near the sea-shore a few palmyras and tamarind trees, with abundance of coco-anut, the only other timber on the island.[1] Purchased some mango and teak planks from a merchant, and selected eight canoes, to form rafts for the work in the great channel.
8th. Inspected the small channel, and ordered a party to remove some large stones, and another to bore the rock at its northern extremity, which nearly blocks up the passage. Proceeded to the great channel, and ordered it to be correctly marked off by small floats with flags, at intervals of about 30 yards. Before leaving off work, fired two small -charges of powder in the two holes that had been finished; one split the rock into small pieces, the other found vent through the bottom, and did little execution.
9th. The buoys were this morning laid down on one side, and anchored with large stones. Purchased two catamarans from a vessel to complete the floats; no light wood being procurable in the neighbourhood. The working party succeeded this day in boring 10 holes in the rocks at the head of the small channel, which were immediately loaded and fired. Charge 8 and 10 oz. of powder, contained in bottles 9 succeeded perfectly, and shattered the rock into small fragments which were easily removed by the hand. The remainder of the men employed in deepening the lower part of the channel. This is the most
- ↑ Except Ethee planted near pagodas, and along the great roads to Ramisseram.
