72 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



the members of the survey party while at Algiers. This energetic officer, just retired from 

 active service on account of the age limit, was to do us one more favor. He had with 

 hmi a recently-invented wireless receiving outfit. With this apparatus, time-signals from 

 Eiffel Tower were successfully obtained, by aid of which our time work was put on a good 



basis. 



From December 26 to 29 a sand blizzard was blowing, thus delaying work. On account 

 of the lack of pasturage or purchasable animal food, this delay created difficulty. The 

 camels could not be fed. After one had died from indigestion caused by eating dates, they 

 were finally sent under escort of 2 soldiers to a pasturage 30 kilometers from In-Salah. 

 While preparations for the more difficult half of the journey were under way, a 24-hour 

 series of magnetic declination observations was carried out, as also the regular observa- 

 tions. While encamped here also, news was received of a successful attack upon the 

 Berbers, by Captain Charley, commandant of the post at In-Salah, about a month and a 

 half travel to the south of us, in the vicinity of Kidal. In this attack he was reported to 

 have captured 300 camels and killed about 80 of the marauding Berbers. It was assumed 

 that this event had cleared our route, for some time at least, of these marauders. The fact 

 also that General Bailloud with an escort of 40 soldiers was making a flying trip over prac- 

 tically the same route that was to be followed later on at a slower pace gave additional 

 promise of security and success for our party. 



Our escort was now changed for Sahariennes of In-Salah and was increased to 8 men. 

 Private Plainchamp was substituted for Sub-Officer Constant in the command of these 

 men, Avho, as before, were camel men. A new set of caravaneers had to be engaged, as 

 none of the men hired at Ouargla were willing to go beyond In-Salah. Two more camels 

 were purchased. It seemed desirable to have several camels free from loads; besides, more 

 weight was added by the increased amount of provisions which had to be carried for the 

 caravaneers and servants. Provisions for these men could not be obtained until Moty- 

 linski was reached. One camel was loaded with dates, to be used in emergencies in tiding 

 the weaker animals over starvation when pasturage would not be found. This was a 

 precaution that saved us quite a few animals. 



On January 2, 1913, all preparations having been made, In-Salah was left behind and 

 the last and more difficult part of the trans-Saharan work commenced. The expedition 

 was now constituted as follows: 2 magnetic observers, 1 interpreter, 2 servants (cook, 

 caravan-chief), 6 camel-drivers, 7 native soldiers (commanded by 1 French private. Plain- 

 champ), 5 servants and caravaneers of military convoy, or 24 men in all; 25 baggage- 

 camels (bought by the expedition), 8 military riding-camels (mehari), 8 military convoy 

 (luggage) camels, making in all 41 camels. The military-convoy camels carried the pro- 

 visions and baggage of the soldiers. Eight animals were sufficient, as a fresh supply of 

 provisions could be obtained from the military stores at Fort Motylinski. 



Insufficient pasturage was found the very first day out. On the morning of the 

 second day from In-Salah a small Tuareg caravan was met, with the animals loaded with 

 hay made from a wiry desert grass. The leader handed us a note, forwarded by General 

 Bailloud, warning us that we were going to encounter 3 days of travel without any pastur- 

 age or wood. We immediately purchased all the hay the Tuareg would part with for our 

 animals, and that evening, to further save the animals, poured away half our water supply. 



On January 4, after a long 8-hours' march, the caravan arrived at the wells of Hassi-el- 

 Khenig, where water but not pasturage was found. The animals had had no pasturage 

 the day before, magnetic observations were desirable, and another foodless day was await- 

 ing the animals. Under the circumstances, a magnetic station was occupied by observing 

 all night. In the morning the route was resumed. Before that day's march was over, one 

 camel had to be relieved of his load and left behind exhausted. He was brought to camp 

 late in the afternoon by a caravaneer left behind for the purpose, who drove him as fast 

 as his condition permitted. That night he was fed dates and brought into shape to con- 

 tinue. 



