Date: 1885
applied their practised strength to the duty of rock-cleaving ; Avhile there was an incessant tinkle of spade and shovel as the busy Indians cleared away the broken scraps of stone, and a perpetual sallying forth of heavily-laden basket carriers, each plodding upwards with his load of rocky fragments.  The neAV boring-machines roared and spluttered as they tore at the side of the mountain with their jagged steel teeth, Avhile every now and then rang forth a hoarse, bellowing report, as a blast was fired, and fresh gaps Avere opened in the rocky rampart Avhich Ave Avere breaching by every means known to science.  Each step of our progress confirmed my partner's predictions.