26                OUR "GLENROCK" ESTATE.
	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