292 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



two miles from her moorings, over the town and over a hill eighty 

 feet high. 



Early on the morning of April 5, forty-five days after leaving San 

 Francisco, we entered Ivoninginne Bay, a beautiful little indentation 

 in the precipitous coast of Sumatra. Here is a safe harbor (Emma- 

 haven) where ocean ships go alongside of stone docks. The railroad 

 system of the island has its coast terminus at this point. The coal 

 brought down from the mines in the interior is carried to the ships' 

 bunkers in flat baskets by an endless chain of natives, while the ships 

 are loading with coffee, rice, rattan, gutta-percha, hardwoods and spices 

 of all sorts. 



The city of Padang, about four miles north of Emmahaven, is 

 reached by the railroad. Carriages from the two principal hotels 

 were at the railway station, and after a circuitous drive through 

 avenues of trees, our journey was temporarily ended at the Oranje 

 Hotel, ' Het Grootste Hotel van Sumatra.' 



My first business was to present my letters of introduction, and 

 to call upon the governor. His Excellency, Governor Joekes, received 

 us cordially and gave the necessary instructions to the heads of all 

 departments who could in any way assist the expedition. 



The old race-track (Patuoen Kuda) near the edge of the city was 

 chosen as the site. Shelters for the instruments were built by the native 

 carpenters out of bamboo and atap (palm thatch). A few small cart- 

 loads of these simple materials, which are supplied almost ready for 

 use by a bountiful nature, sufficed to build everything. Shelters, sheds 

 and fence (even to the hinges and fastenings of the gate) were con- 

 structed from them. 



One orangd jaga (watchman) was employed to guard the small 

 native house at the eclipse camp where the freight was stored and two 

 more to watch the mounted instruments, only a furlong distant. The 

 day after one had been employed to watch the instruments, he came 

 with a frantic appeal for another, because he could not possibly stay 

 alone. Upon questioning him I found that Patuoen Kuda was 

 •' haunted ' and that no native would stay there alone at night. A 

 companion was found for him, after which the two were regularly 

 found sound asleep in the midst of things. Their mere presence 

 seemed to be effective, for nothing was missed during our stay. 



Tbe advent of so many foreigners, composing the astronomical 

 expeditions, excited great interest among the natives. At first the 

 Malays were disturbed, for they thought the sole object of these for- 

 eigners, particularly the British and Americans, was to spy out their 

 country. As the serious preparation for observation began they 

 became less suspicions, but still scouted the idea of an eclipse, saying 

 that ' if these men could foretell such an event, they would be half 



