On my telling the young Engineer officer in charge of the Sapper company that a bridge was required to be constructed with the least possible delay, he replied that it should be done, but that it was necessary to calculate the force of the current, the weight to be borne, and the consequent strength of the timber required.

Off he went, urged by me to be as quick as he could.

Some hours elapsed, and nothing was seen of the Engineer, so I sent for him and asked him when the bridge was to be begun.

He answered that his plans were nearly completed, and that he would soon be able to commence work.

In the meantime, however, and while these scientific calculations were being made, the headman of the local coolies had come to me and said, if the order were given, he would throw a good bridge over the river in no time.