'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎34] (65/481)

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them. But whenever lime is procurable at a reasonable
cost, it would be far better to build the bridges with lime
mortar throughout, and this would ultimately prove the
more economical plan. But the first cost would be great,
and the time and establishment required would exceed
those at my disposal.
To give a permanent pavement to bridges built without
cement would be out of place. On the whole, it has
seemed preferable to secure moderately-good roads at the
least possible expenditure of time, money, and labour, than
to have the prospect of better roads ten years hence. In
deed, with the means available in this country, ten years
would not have sufficed to construct all my bridges with
lime mortar, and paved roadways. *
Accordingly, I set to work (not altogether in ignorance
of constructive art) after a fashion of my own, without
establishments, without any aid whatever, and with the
people of the country alone. The result is, that a country
which was almost impassable is now traversed with ease
and comfort, at all seasons, in every direction. And the
work has been accomplished in one year, at a very trifling
comparative cost.
With regard to the preservation of the roadways of the
bridges, experience shows that the most effectual way of
protecting the masonry in this district is to keep it well
covered with earth. The bridges near camps or towns,
which necessarily are those most used, should be covered
with stable litter or such like, which, if renewed occasion
ally, till the whole be consolidated into an elastic mass,
stands better than anything else. No ordinary metal will
bind in go very dry a climate. The earthing of the bridges
should be included in the road-repair contracts.
. With regard to the question of wheel-carriages with