18th. Almost the whole of the men assisting in unloading the stores, and bringing brush wood to lodge the diving-bell on. The shears, constructed with four coco-anut trees, were not strong enough to support the weight; procured some large palmyrah trees, six of which were employed in making another pair of shears—16 holes fired to day, 15 with excellent effect, the match Europe. The main dam is now passable at all times of tide for boats.
19th. Sunday.
20th. Sent a large cargo boat to receive the windlass of the diving bell, but it went to pieces with the weight. There are no craft here capable of receiving this machine, nor people to work it; being 5 tons in weight, the diving-bell may be said to be unmanageable, and has, I believe, never been used in Ceylon.
21st Diving-bell raised out of the Ceylon boat and suspended till a bed of fascines, stones and trees could be prepared to receive it. Went to Ramisseram to ascertain what resources it could furnish, in boats or materials, but found little or nothing; the town depends almost entirely on the pagoda, and the pilgrims who visit from India.
22d. Men almost entirely employed with the diving-bell; the stage finished except the palmyra trees.
23d. The bell lowered, and by a mistake of the native officer brought on shore. It is now useless trying to remove it, so it has been allowed to remain till required, or fit boats provided for its reception. It will not be required till near the close of the operations. Ceylon government vessel, the Wolf, sailed for the pearl banks.
24th. A new shed was commenced this morning for the blacksmiths; the one they formerly worked in being required for the stores received from Ceylon. The sappers principally employed in enlarging the mouth of the small channel; suspended the work at the jail, not being able to procure clay, and a sufficient party could not be spared to bring it without detriment to more important works.
25th. The rock at the mouth of the little channel had been bored in eight places, and at 11 a. m. the blasting commenced with very good effect; two charges with the Madras match failed, the others succeeded perfectly, and entirely broke the rock, giving an opening of 24 feet to the channel. The charges were this day contained in leather bags of undressed sheep skins, covered with dammer, and are preferable to either the tin, cases or bottles; the expense is also much less than the tin and not so subject to injury in tamping.
26th. Sunday.
27th. This is the first day the sea was sufficiently calm to admit of work being carried on in the great channel, where the raft was anchored, and answered perfectly. Four holes bored in the rock, but not finished before the tide had risen, and the current became too strong
