Observers' Field Reports 



81 



25 porters were required. Only 2 men to carry the hammock are customary here, so that 

 these have to be frequently reheved. Six men who relieve one another make a crew of 

 hanmiock-men. We thus required 12 "hamacaires." This was our method of transport 

 as far as Sav6, the terminus of a railway from Cotonou. The route pursued is a very impor- 

 tant one, as it is the only route by which the French may reach on their own territory the 

 important post of Zinder. For this reason an attempt is being made to operate an auto- 

 mobile service between the railhead and the Niger. One of the autos of this service was 

 tried on September 14 and carried us with extreme difficulty three carriers' marches, as far 

 as Bambereke. Here it was given up on account of mud and carriers were resumed. 



I had a mild attack of fever on September 13 while staying at Kandi. On September 

 17, after observing at Bambereke, I suffered another attack of malarial fever, and there- 

 after, until the coast was left, was continually harassed by mild attacks. On September 29 

 the railroad was reached at Sav6. On October 2-3, observations were made at Bohicon, 

 midway point on the railway, and on October 4 Cotonou, on the coast, was reached. Here 

 mail was received and attended to, observations were made, observation records were put 

 in final form, and the interpreter was sent home. On November 16 I arrived at Lagos, 

 Nigeria, whence all records were transmitted to Washington and observations were made. 

 On December 4 I left Lagos to return to Washington. 



The instrumental outfit carried south of Timbuktu was as follows: magnetometer 

 No. 13; Dover dip circle No. 223, needles 2, 3, 5, 6; Leroy watch No. 8650, and Kittel pocket 

 chronometers Nos. 259 and 260. 



The magnetic stations occupied south of Timbuktu were: 



Stations marked (T) are points previously occupied by the "Mission Tilho." 



The field time of occupying these 16 stations required 136 days, or an average of 8| 

 days per station. This large average is due to two causes : observer's illness in the field, and 

 work done on correspondence and records at Cotonou. The field cost, exclusive of obser- 

 ver's salary, was $1,213.96, making an average field cost per station of nearly $76. About 

 1,200 miles were covered, 200 of which were by railway and steamboat travel, 300 by negro 

 carriers, and about 700 by steel barge; this makes an average of about 75 miles per station. 



As everywhere else, the French in the territory of Timbuktu, in the military territory of 

 the Niger, and in Dahomey, whether in official or private capacity, extended every courtesy 

 possible, every lone post entertaining us hospitably. In Lagos, Mr. A. Cleminson, acting 

 head of the Cadastral Branch of the Nigerian Survey, extended special courtesy and showed 

 great interest in the work of the Department. 



The time and longitude work was based at Timbuktu on the detemiination by 

 Captains Jordan and Harranger; on the Niger and through Dahomey on the determinations 

 of Captain Tilho, and at Cotonou on the determination of the French Geographic Service. 



F. Brown, on Magnetic Work in Northwestern Australia, 

 September to October 1913. 



In accordance with instructions from my chief of party, Mr. E. Kidson, dated Septem- 

 ber 15, 1913,1 left Longreach, Queensland, on September 16, in an automobile, accompanied 

 by Mr. McPherson. My instrumental outfit consisted of magnetometer No. 17, dip circle 

 No. 172, pocket chronometer No. 258, Hamilton watch No. 107, and South Bend watch 

 No. 400. 



