120 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



The Damascus-Medina railroad service being interrupted by a storm, opportunity 

 was taken to observe at Beirut on March 6. While setting up the theodolite here for 

 latitude observations, a violent gust of wind threw the tent down, but, fortunately, no 

 damage resulted to the instrument. Leaving Damascus March 14 for the Hedjaz, we 

 arrived in Madain-Saleh March 16. On the return, observations were made at Tebook, 

 where we were put in quarantine for 5 days, but, by courtesy of the Turkish officers, we were 

 allowed to proceed with our work. Observations were next secured at Ma'an and at 

 Katrane; letters of introduction from one of the railway-supply contractors greatly facili- 

 tated this work. 



Upon return to Damascus on April 2, arrangements were undertaken for a trip to 

 Palmyra. This was made by carriage, an escort of two gendarmes, as advised by the 

 Turkish authorities, accompanying the party. The traveling was done in the early part 

 of the day, the afternoons being utilized for the observational work. Stations were estab- 

 lished at Kuteifeh, Nebk, Karietein, Ain-el-Bieda, and Palmyra. From Palmyra we 

 returned to Horns, on the Damascus- Aleppo railroad, to the north of Damascus, and secured 

 observations at Homs and Ummerdjim, arriving at Aleppo April 21. We left the latter 

 place on April 30, and went by carriage to Birejik on the Euphrates, returning to Aintab 

 May 4. 



On May 7 we set out with pack animals for Marash, arriving there May 8, and secured 

 observations on May 11 and 12. Making observations en route at Osmanie, Adana was 

 reached May 18. Between Marash and Adana troublesome rains were encountered. From 

 Adana we went by rail to Mersina, May 20, then by steamship to Larnaca and thence to 

 Latakia on the Syrian Coast. En route observations were made at Alexandretta. 



It was necessary to return to Beirut to take the steamer for Rhodes, where we arrived 

 June 12, and continued thence to Smyrna and then by rail to Aidin and Denizli, returning 

 to Smyrna on June 25. Between June 27 and July 6 observations were made along the 

 railroad eastward at Alashehr, LTghak, Afiumkarahissar, Tchaouchdjikeuy, Konia, and 

 Eregli. \\Tiile returning from Eregli to Constantinople (July 13) observations were secured 

 at Eskishehr and Adabazar. From Constantinople trips were made to the Dardanelles 

 and to Adrianople. Shortly after returning, during the last of July, the observer was 

 forced to go to the hospital for one week on account of malarial fever. 



On August 15, the party, consisting of the observer, the interpreter, and a cook, set out 

 from Constantinople for Bagdad. We went by rail to Angora, making observations at 

 Sazelar en route, thence by carriage to Kharput, observing en route at Kirshehr, Kaisariyeh, 

 Sivas, and Malatia. From Kharput we crossed, by pack animals, the Dersim to Erzingan, 

 a very picturesque and wild, rough, mountainous country. En route observations were 

 made at Egin and Gemakh. We arrived at Erzingan September 27 and continued our 

 journey by caravan to Erzerum, which was reached October 4. We were now in the Taurus 

 Mountains, and during the day suffered from cold winds; at night, the temperature fell 

 below zero. On the borders of the vilayet, near Mush, we were again quarantined for 3 

 days. Bitlis was reached on October 21, and thence we descended into the Tigris Valley 

 by the Bitlis Pass to Jezireh-ibn-Omar. Observations were made October 31 at Sert, on 

 the Tigris. From Jezireh we proceeded across the desert to Nisibin and, via Mardin, to 

 Diarbekir on the Tigris, arriving there November 11. From Kharput to Diarbekir the 

 journey, occupying about 56 days, was made by pack animals, a distance of approximately 

 800 miles. 



At Diarbekir two rafts (keleks) were constructed, one for the observer and interpreter 

 and the other for the cook and for his kitchen. A number of goatskins were filled with air, 

 on which platforms were laid for the erection of huts and tents. The kelekjes, by means 

 of long poles with paddles nailed to the ends, guided the keleks, floating with the current. 

 We began our journey down the Tigris on November 17, the mountains around Diarbekir 



