Magnetic Work in Southern and Central Africa 105 



lake southward for about 50 miles to Florence Bay, and suddenly once more ascended to the 

 plateau of Nyassaland at the famous mission-station of Kondowe (Livingstonia). Thence it 

 followed the district main road southward along the Rukuru, through Mzimba, Loudon, Kasungu, 

 Ngara, Kongwe, Dowa, LilongAve, Mpunzi, Mlanda, Dedza, Ncheu, Matope, Blantyre, Cholo, 

 Chiromo, Port Herald. At Port Herald a small river house-boat was secured, by means of which 

 observations were continued along the Shire and Zambezi Rivers till it had to be abandoned to 

 insure being in time for the ocean steamer at Chinde. 



From Abercorn onwards the daily routine was as follows. Camp was broken shortly before 

 6 a.m., and a march of about 10 miles made till about S** 40 a.m. While the tent was being erected 

 and breakfast prepared, forenoon observations of the sun were taken. These were followed by 

 observations of declination, horizontal intensity, latitude, and dip. The set was usually completed 

 between 2 and 3 p.m.; after some additional refreshment marching was resumed, and continued 

 usually till about s"" 30 p.m. In this way an average march on week days of about 19 miles per 

 day was easily maintained. On Sundays a short march was made in the morning, and the re- 

 mainder of the day was devoted to rest and correspondence. 



The weather was, throughout, almost ideal for observing purposes. But for two negligible 

 showers, no rain fell between the first week of May and the first week of September, and on the 

 plateau which was traversed by much the greater part of the march, the air was cool, clear, and 

 bracing. At this season the climate appears particularly healthy. About four working days 

 were lost through mild attacks of "fever," doubtless contracted in April during the work on the 

 Rhodesian railways. Good marching roads or paths from 8 to 12 feet wide were available from 

 Abercorn onwards. Some of these were excellently made, and all appeared kept in wonderfully good 

 order. Acknowledgment must be made of the almost overwhelming hospitality experienced all 

 along the route, at the hands both of the magistrates and officials of the British South African 

 Company and of Nyassaland and of the missionaries of the London Missionary Society, United 

 Free Church of Scotland, Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and the Established Church 

 of Scotland. It is also only right to say that much of the comfort with which the work was 

 done was due to the faithfulness of the native helpers. 



4. From Chinde, Professor Morrison proceeded to Dar-es-Salaam via Mozambique and 

 Zanzibar, at which places an attempt was made to make observations during the stay of the 

 steamer. From Dar-es-Salaam observations were made, for a distance of about 230 kilometers, 

 along the line of the Dar-es-Salaam and Morogoro Railway, in the same way as has been already 

 detailed for the German Southwest African Railway. As before, much courtesy was shown by 

 the German Government and its officials, as well as by private individuals. Special mention must 

 be made of the kind assistance extended by the Government meteorologist. Dr. Kastens. 



5. In British East Africa observations were made along the Uganda or British East African 

 Railway, which runs from Mombasa northwest to Port Florence on Lake Uganda, a distance 

 of 564 miles. Everything was done by the Government and railway authorities to further the 

 work. The observer was relieved at Mombasa of the cares of the landing and transport of baggage 

 and instruments. A comfortable sleeping and kitchen car was set aside for his use free of charge 

 during the whole six weeks of his stay, and moved from station to station as required. The 

 result was that more work was done in the time available than could have been achieved under 

 any other circumstances; warm acknowledgment is therefore due for the assistance thus given. 

 The weather conditions were on the whole favorable, but work was stopped at a few points by 

 heavy rain. Much of the inland part of the country from Nairobi westward appeared to show 

 evidences of igneous and volcanic action. Observations were taken at from 25 to 30 miles apart 

 and the conditions as to paucity of houses at most observing points were much as in German 

 Southwest Africa. 



Distribution of Stations. 



The distribution of stations occupied by the two observers between October, 1908, and January. 

 1910, was as follows: Jointly, 6 in the Belgian Congo, i in the Cape Province, i in Egypt, i in 

 England, and 39 in Rhodesia in all 48; by Beattie, 36 in Cape Colony, 45 in German Southwest 

 Africa, 60 in German East Africa, 3 in Rhodesia, and 33 in the Uganda Protectorate in all 177; 

 by Morrison, 35 in British Central Africa, 28 in British East Africa, 4 in Cape Colony, 10 in 

 German East Africa, 24 in German Southwest Africa, 6 in Portuguese East Africa, 15 in Rhodesia 



