anvils, stamp heads, sheets, rails, barrels, and cases, . and the cry is, " Still they come."
Before
I left, the sling waggons and trollies had arrived, bringing up some of
the heavier pieces. These had been delayed on the road by one of those
unfortunate occurrences which, added to native stupidity, so often make
the best-laid plans gang a-aglee, whether they be laid by mice or by
men. A native contractor had engaged to bring these heavy loads up from
Calicut through the Carcoor Ghat, and had actually got as far as
Nadukani, four-fifths of the journey, when his bullocks were attacked
by cattle disease, and some of them died on the road. Instead of
sending a message on to the mines and asking for help, he became
alarmed at the possible consequences to himself of the failure to
deliver his freight, and returned with his remaining bullocks to
Calicut, leaving the waggons on the road ! As day after day passed and
no news could be obtained of the expected machinery, a messenger was
despatched down the ghat, who returned the next day only to tell our
people that the waggons had been abandoned. Arrangements were
accordingly made to bring them up; and they arrived in due course
without further mishap. Nevertheless time had been lost, and it was
evidently no longer safe to trust, as heretofore, to the contract
system. An officer was therefore appointed to accompany and manage
future transports ; so that, in case of difficulty, intelligent
assistance
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