to
receive the tables and huddles, where the sulphurets will he caught. At
the time I visited the spot, one of these retaining -walls had heen
completed; and the foundation level was almost finished. Indeed the
work was proceeding vigorously; plenty of lahour was available, and it
was estimated that the building itself would be commenced within six
weeks, and finished before the end of June; and that the work of
erecting the machinery could proceed under cover all through the
monsoon.
Here,
in England, we look at the map, and see the distance from point to
point, and calculate that it should take so many days to convey heavy
loads (some of them weighing over two tons) a given distance. But the
maps afford no indication whatever of the difficulties arising from
the nature of the ground to be traversed. After having been dragged up
4000 feet, all these heavy pieces must be let down 1000 feet or so
through dense forest; whilst the incline has to be constructed along
the face of an almost perpendicular cliff. Then there are projecting
masses of rock which require to be blasted away; to say nothing of the
thousands of tons of earth that must be removed in the ordinary
construction of such a road. All this has actually been done, and done
quickly too.
retaining
walls so much"that it was determined to trust no longer to an
artificial platform, and the whole building was to be erected upon the
solid hillside. This will involve a little delay, but will not
seriously hinder the completion of the building.
