Extracts from Field Reports 109 



However, with the assistance of Mr. Kidson, some magnetic observations were obtained at tiie 

 station estabHshed at this port by Mr. Ault in 1905. As the marl: used by him at Port Royal 

 was located within the area chiefly affected by the earthquake subsequent to his visit, it was 

 necessary to check the azimuth of the mark; it was found, however, that no sensible change had 

 occurred. At Colon, Mr. Fleming's station of 1907 was reoccupied. 



In Colombia, observations were made at Cartagena and Savanilla. At the former port, the 

 time available was very brief and at the latter, delay was experienced in gaining permission to 

 carry the instruments ashore; the observations at these stations were therefore not as complete 

 as desirable. Owing to the political conditions in Venezuela, the steamer was not allowed to 

 to make calls at any ports in that country; hence the observations as planned in Venezuela had 

 to be omitted. 



On the island of Barbados, two stations were established. The first was at Bridgetown; 

 owing to the erection of a large stone building near the point at which Mr. D. C. Sowers had 

 determined the magnetic elements in 1905, it was necessary to make the igo8 observations at 

 another point located in the open ground not far from the 1905 station. Test observations 

 made at secondary points northward and westward of the 1908 station did not show any marked 

 local disturbance. The next station was at Bathsheba, at a point on the opposite side of the island , 

 selected especially to determine whether the values at Bridgetown were altered by the high ridge 

 of volcanic character extending north and south, along the length of the island. 



On August 4, I sailed for Georgetown, British Guiana, arriving there August 6. The plan 

 followed in the selection of stations in the Guianas was determined by the geographical distribution 

 of rivers, which are the main routes of travel. These form a series of broad streams running 

 northward, practically parallel to each other, opening channels which are navigable various dis- 

 tances, from 50 to 150 miles inland. In British Guiana, the Sprostons Company, Limited, under 

 contract with the colony, operates a system of transportation over most of the navigable waters 

 of the region, so that it was possible to make short trips starting from Georgetown. Accordingly, 

 after having established a base station at Georgetown, a number of expeditions were made to 

 available points, and magnetic observations were then secured at stations given in the list below. 

 The first expedition was from Georgetown about 200 miles to Morowhana, near the mouth of the 

 Barima River; this point is the approximate location of Schomburgk's magnetic station of 1847. 

 Thence a trip was made inland about 100 miles to Arakaka and Barima Mine; observations were 

 obtained at Mount Everard on the return to Morowhana. The second expedition from George- 

 town was a short trip of about 40 miles northwest to Suddie, a point on the coast. The third was 

 up the Essequibo River, about 60 miles from Georgetown to Bartica, at the junction of that river 

 with the Cuyuni. With the aid of transportation facilities furnished by a local rubber company, 

 a trip was made, early in September, to Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River, approximately 150 

 miles inland, and magnetic observations were thus secured at several stations along the way. 

 The station at Malali, at the head of navigation on the Demarara, was reached from Wismar on 

 the return from this trip. The next stations were those at New Amsterdam and at Springlands. 

 The writer was prevented by an attack of fever from occupying a station up the Berbice River 

 starting from New Amsterdam; however, an expedition from Springlands, up the Corentyne 

 River, to Oreala was carried out later. 



The number of accessible regions in Dutch Guiana, on account of the nature of the streams 

 and the absence of other routes of travel, is small. A short railway extends inland about 100 

 kilometers to Brownsweg where observations were made, but the other points reached had to be 

 comparatively near the coast. 



In French Guiana even less opportunity than in British and in Dutch Guiana was found for 

 obtaining well-distributed observations; however, with the aid mentioned below, 3 stations were 

 occupied, including one at Cayenne, and also one at the penal colony on lie Royale where obser- 

 vations had been made by Harkness in 1865. Returning to Georgetown, observations at ad- 

 ditional points in British Guiana and in Dutch Guiana were secured. On the voyage homeward, 

 a brief stop at Port of Spain, Trinidad, made possible a few observations at the station of 1905 

 established by Observer Sowers. 



The months of September, October, and November, as they constitute the dry season, are 

 favorable to observational work along the low coast countries; but as the rivers are then at a low 

 stage it is not so easy to get to interior points, and the danger of contracting fever and other 

 tropical disorders is much increased. 



