Observers' Field Reports 117 



After observing at Tarma on May 23, the trip on mule-back was started on the 24th 

 to Palca, where a stop was made to allow the arriero to outfit for the trip. On the 25th 

 Huacapistana was reached. As it was found that chronometer No. 677 had stopped during 

 the trip, it was replaced on May 31 by chronometer No. 1044. The journey was continued 

 the following day to La Merced, where I observed on June 4. It may be noted here that 

 the trail from Tanna to La Merced is an excellent one, and all down grade, while beyond 

 La Merced it is not so good and mules are mired in the mud and water. Because of this 

 bad portion of the trail it is necessary to load the mules light, between 150 and 200 pounds. 

 In the wet season the trail becomes well-nigh impassable. After various vicissitudes and 

 delays because of bad weather, Puerto Yesup, on the Pichis River, was reached June 17, 

 magnetic observations having been secured en route at 2 stations. From the preceding 

 statement it figures out very closely that, when the trail is good, the pack-train can do a 

 league (3 miles) an hour, while, when the trail is bad, as it generally is, it takes the pack- 

 train an hour and a half for a league. 



Proceeding next by canoe, I arrived at Puerto Bermudez June 20 and completed my 

 observations on the 2 following days. At Puerto Victoria, where the Pichis and Palcazu 

 join to form the Pachitea River, observations were made on June 26, and at Platanos on 

 the 29th and 30th. After various delays by heavy rains, the river rising 5 feet, Masisea, 

 C. C. Stewart's station of 1910 on the Ucayali River, was reached and reoccupied July 14, 

 observations having been made besides at 2 stations en route. On the swift rivers like the 

 Pichis, Pachitea, and Ucayali, near Masisea, it takes, by canoe or launch, twice as long to 

 go up as to come down. The trip from Puerto Bermudez to Masisea requires 10 to 11 days 

 by canoe, and 3 to 4 by launch ; the return trip takes 20 to 22 days by canoe, and 6 to 8 by 

 launch. A magnetic station was established at Tushmo above Masisea, July 20 to 22. On 

 the 23d I returned by launch to Masisea. Froin July 24 to August 3 the journey was 

 continued on the launch Rosa from Masisea to Cahuapana, on the Pichis, thence by canoe 

 to Puerto Bermudez, where my former station was reoccupied, August 4 and 5. Continuing 

 on the 5th to Puerto Yesup, where mules were obtained, Enenas was reached on the 11th, 

 where the desired astronomical observations were made. I finally arrived at Oroya on 

 August 16. The weather on the return trip was, on the whole, good, as it was the last 

 month of summer or of the dry season in the Amazon country. 



The entire trij) from Tarma to Masisea and return, owing to the delays stated and 

 conditions encountered, took 86 days. Under very favorable circumstances it could have 

 been made in 55 to 65 days. The total distance traveled from Tarma to Masisea and 

 return, counting in the side trips, amounted to 1,270 miles, of which 530 were on mule-back 

 and 740 by water (canoe and launch). 



Local disturbances were disclosed at Banos, where there are ferruginous hot springs. 

 The magnetic station was established 2 miles down the river from the springs, but there still 

 seemed to be an effect, as judged by the results at the preceding stations. 



The Peruvian government and officials did everything possible to further the object 

 of the trip. 



H. R. ScHMiTT, ON Magnetic Work in Peru and Bolivia, September 1912 to 



January 1913. 



The instructions covering this work were those of the Director of June 27, 1912, supple- 

 mented by those of the chief of party, Mr. J. P. Ault, of August 19, 1912. The outfit 

 consisted of magnetometer No. 14, marine chronometer No. 1044, pocket chronometer 

 No. 244, watches Nos. 53 and 100, observing-tent, and accessories. After some practice 

 observations at Lima, magnetic observations were made at Huacho on September 1 and 

 active field work was commenced on September 13 at Matucana. 



