260 REACH MOUNT PARKER. \_May, 



of weeks' labour, carried out by the knowledge of what 

 must be the realization of the then radius of vision : it 

 was one of those bright days which are to be made the 

 most of in these regions, of which I was not slow in 

 taking advantage. In compliment to one of my most 

 respected friends, the senior naval Lord of the Admi- 

 ralty, I named this Mount Parker. The few hours' de- 

 lay here repaid me abundantly : I had laid in a stock of 

 matter to guide me strictly for many clays. I was ena- 

 bled, by our astronomical data, to impress the indelible 

 seal of truth on ah 1 I had done, and by that truth to be 

 aided in fixing beyond dispute, so long as sun and lati- 

 tude continued available, many other important positions 

 from which I might merely see this ! So far the sur- 

 veyor is strong in his position : he can combat opposi- 

 tion, simply by facts and observations, which the most 

 talented can but verify ; and eventually can afford to 

 make a long stride and overtake his poor friend the tor- 

 toise or hare, driven perhaps by impulse, but certainly 

 not by sagacity, to despise the truths of science, to the 

 accomplishment of improved, and not well-searched dis- 

 tance. The delay here enabled me also to put in prac- 

 tice what I had some days contemplated, viz. changing 

 the travelling hours from day to night : that is, the men 

 enjoyed their repose or sleep during the warm tempe- 

 rature by day, when exposure to the sun was oppressive 

 and withering, commencing work at six P.M., lunching 

 at midnight, and ending at six A.M. ; the sun however, 

 although at very low altitudes, being always visible, if 

 not veiled by clouds, etc. 



On our descent from Mount Parker we noticed the 



