After digging deeply, the sand will often be found just moist, no water actually lying in the well; but do not, therefore, be disheartened; wait a while, and the water will collect.  After it has once begun to ooze through the sides of the well, it will continue to do so much more freely.  Therefore, on arriving at night, with thirsty cattle, at a well of doubtful character, deepen it at once, by torch-light, that the water may have time to collect; then the cattle may be watered in the early morning, and sent to feed before the sun is hot.

It often happens when digging wells in sandy watercourses, that a little water is found, and that below it is a stratum of clay.  Now if the digging be continued deeper, in hopes of more water, the result is often most unfortunate; for the clay stratum may prove extremely thin, in which case the digging will pierce it:  then the water that had been seen will drain rapidly and wholly away, to the utter discomfiture of the traveller.

Kerkari.—­I am indebted to correspondents for an account of a method employed in the plains of the Sikhim Himalaya, and in Assam, where it is called a “Kerkari,” also in lower Bengal, for digging deep holes.  The natives take a freshly cut bamboo, say three inches in diameter:  they cut it just above one of the knots, and then split the wood as far as to the next joint, in about a dozen places, and point the pieces somewhat.  The other end of the instrument should be cut slantingly, to thrust into the earth, and its other end is afterwards worked vertically with both hands.

[Unlabelled figure of kerkari].

The soft soil is thus forced into the hollow of the bamboo, and spreads out its blades, as is intended to be shown in the figure.  The bamboo is next withdrawn and the plug of earth is shaken out:  it is then reintroduced and worked up and down as before.  It is usual to drive a stake in the ground to act as a toothed comb, to comb out the plug of earth.  Mr. Peal writes from Assam:—­“I have just had 4 holes dug in the course of ordinary work, in hard earth.  Two men dug the holes in 1 1/2 hour; they were 3 feet 6 inches deep and 6 inches in diameter.  I weighed the clay raised at each stroke.  In 4 consecutive strokes the weights were 1 1/4 lbs., 1 3/4 lbs., 1 3/4 lbs., 2 lbs.  Another trial gave 7 lbs. lifted, after 5 or 6 strokes.”  According to the above data, an Assamese workman makes a hole, 1 foot deep and 6 inches in diameter in 6 minutes.  Holes 10 feet deep and 6 inches wide can be made, as I am informed, by this contrivance.

Protecting Wells.—­The following extract from Bishop Heber, though hardly within the scope of the ‘Art of Travel,’ is very suggestive.  “The wells of this country (Bhurtpoor, India), some of which are very deep, are made in a singular manner.  They build a tower of masonry of the diameter required, and 20 or 30 feet high from the surface of the ground.  This they allow to stand a year or more, till its masonry is rendered firm