Extracts from Field Reports 117 



At Quito preparations were made for the long journey to Bogoti by mule. The roads were 

 found to be in a wretched state owing to the advance of the rainy season, and delays were caused 

 at every station in hiring fresh pack mules. 



From Neiva to Girardot, on the Magdalena River, travel was by means of a raft and from 

 Girardot to Bogota part of the journey was on muleback and part by train. Returning to 

 Girardot after some days at Bogotd, the journey to Barranquilla was undertaken by means of 

 rafts, canoes, and river steamers. Crossing from Barranquilla by river steamer to Cienaga, and 

 thence by steamer to Santa Marta, a wait of nearly a fortnigiit was encountered at the latter 

 place for a schooner to Riohacha. Returning from the latter place to Santa Marta and Barran- 

 quilla, the trip was continued by steamer and train to Calamar and Cartagena and thence to 

 llorica and back to Cartagena on a small steamer. Proceeding to Colon, after a delay of three 

 weeks, a steamer was obtained for Buenaventura and Tumaco. At the latter place a further 

 delay was caused by the late arrival of the returning steamer and a short trip to Barbacoas was 

 taken from Tumaco, going back to Panama and returning to Washington by way of Colon, 

 Port Limon, and New Orleans. 



In all 40 stations were occupied. All of the reductions were made in the field before the 

 results were forwarded to Washington. As indicated by the horizontal intensity values, there 

 seems to be a good deal of local disturbance in the country traversed. This to some extent is to 

 be expected, owing to the line of active and extinct volcanoes along the length of the Andes. 

 In Tulcan, at the close of the observations it was noticed that the volcanic ash which here covers 

 the land contained large quantities of magnetite. The whole country from below Riobamba to 

 beyond Tulcan is covered with ash. In Colon large changes were shown in the short distance 

 between the two stations occupied and this region seems to be highly disturbed. Throughout the 

 whole expedition much help was received from the governmental representatives in the various 

 places, and from others interested in the work. 



The outfit of an observer traveling in Ecuador and Colombia should be adjusted so as to be 

 suitable for packing on mules. He should have riding and camping outfit, the latter including 

 camp bed and mosquito net. Leggings or high boots should be worn as a protection against 

 the many objectionable insects and snakes. Most of the outfit would probably best be ob- 

 tained on the spot where requirements can be ascertained. Some knowledge of Spanish is ab- 

 solutely necessary. 



D. C. Sowers, on Magnetic Exploration Trip across China during February 



to October, 1909. 



In accordance with instructions of October 23, 1908, I sailed from San Francisco November 

 10, bound for Canton, China, via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai and Hongkong. 

 At Canton magnetometer comparisons were made in conjunction with Dr. C. K. Edmunds, who 

 used C.I.W. magnetometer No. 2. Canton was left December 18 and, from December 19 to 25, 

 comparison observations were made at the Hongkong Observatory. Leaving Hongkong December 

 26, and proceeding via Shanghai, Peking was reached January 4, where final preparations were 

 made for the journey across China which began on January 30, 1909. While at Peking, the 

 station established by Dr. Edmunds was reoccupied. Professor C. G. Fuson, of the Canton Christian 

 College, joined the expedition, as chief assistant and companion, in Peking on January 25. Chow 

 Hai Ting was employed as interpreter and when a Chinese cook was secured, the party, composed 

 now of four persons in all, was complete. 



The instrumental outfit consisted of the following: theodolite magnetometer No. 10, dip circle 

 No. 171 with needles Nos. 5, 6, and intensity pairs Nos. 7 and 8 of D.C. 177, and 7 and 8 of D.C. 

 178, 7 being used for dip, pocket chronometer Kittel No. 251, Hamilton watches Nos. 70 and 3, 

 small box chronometer No. 677, magnetic observing tent, two aneroid barometers, medicine 

 chest, hypsometer with supply of alcohol, panoramic kodak, Eastman kodak No. 3, and mis- 

 cellaneous appurtenances. 



Leaving Peking January 30, we proceeded by rail to Honanfu, stopping a day at Chenchow to 

 reoccupy the station where Dr. Edmunds had observed previously. From Honanfu onward, 

 carts and pack animals were the means of travel and the average rate of progress was about 23^2 

 to 3 miles per hour. The length of each day's march varied all the way from 15 to 30 miles. 



