[Illustration: _From a_] REPAIRING THE HOLE MADE BY THE ROCK. [_Photo._] A great crowd of people gathered to witness the interesting event. All being in readiness, the winches on board the lighters worked the ropes connected with the encased Needle, and it commenced to gradually move towards the water, but the movement was so slow that it could scarcely be detected. After some hours it had only made one complete turn on its wheels. It was then proved that the vessels from which the wire ropes were worked were not able to hold their ground against the strain, but were dragging their anchors. Two tugs which had been standing by in readiness to give help if required were called into service, and being connected with the cylinder towed it until she moved a little farther into the water, but although the tugs steamed at full power they could not move the heavy weight at any great speed. The planking ended by an incline into the water, and divers had been previously employed in removing shoals from the intended course to prevent any mishap. When the cylinder was brought to the edge of the railway, so to call it, the idea was that it would roll down the incline and slip off easily into the water. [Illustration: _From a_] LAUNCHED. [_Photo._] [Illustration: _From a_] PUTTING ON THE TOP-FITTINGS IN DOCK. [_Photo._] All the first day was employed in bringing it to the foot of the incline, and at night it was left in no greater depth of water than 3ft. Next morning the tugs again were at work trying to move it into deep water, but after making one full revolution it stuck, and although the tugs continued to tow all day it remained immovable. [Illustration: _From a_] FAREWELL TO ALEXANDRIA. [_Photo._] On the third day divers discovered that a hidden stone weighing half a ton had pierced the plates, and making a hole had allowed the water to rush in and fill the cylinder. It took some days to repair the damage made by the rock, but after that was done it was successfully floated and towed round to the harbour, where final arrangements were made for the sea voyage. A cabin house and rail were fixed on top, two bilge keels 40ft. long were riveted one on either side, a mast and rudder placed, and twenty tons of iron ballast were put in her. It was manned by a crew of five Maltese and an English captain. The time occupied from beginning to encase it until the completion was about three and a half months. A suitable steamer of sufficient size and power was found in the ss. _Olga_, belonging to Messrs. Wm. Johnson and Co., of Liverpool. The craft, which was named the _Cleopatra_, was now ready for sea. It was designed not to travel faster than five or six knots an hour, as greater speed might be disastrous. The _Olga_, towing the _Cleopatra_, set sail from Alexandria on the 21st September, 1877.