Observers' Field Reports 126 



\vp anchored in the neighborhood of the former trading post of Portendick long since 

 abandoned. Between this point and Cape Blanco no landings were possible, as the coast 

 is very dangerous, and even here we had to lie 8 or 10 miles to sea on account of reefs. The 

 observations here were made at Portendick on July 19 and 20, the 2 Moors being posted 

 as sentinels. Some excitement was occasioned here by their mistaking several negro 

 fishermen, the slaves of nearby Arabs, for a troop of Bedawi. We arrived finally at St. 

 Louis, July 23, after a voyage of 44 days, in which over 2,000 miles had been covered 

 (the sloop had been chartered for 45 days). The forethought and wise arrangements of the 

 owner of the sloop, Mr. Sampson, aided much in the success of the voyage. In particular, 

 verj^ good service was given by the 2 Moors, by the interpreter, who showed great courage 

 and patience, and by a member of the crew, who assisted in the usuall.v very difficult 

 landings and looked after the observer while he was sick aboard. 



At St. Louis we were very kindly and cordially received and given every assistance, 

 both by the officials and citizens. Observations were made at St. Louis, Dakar, Kaolack, 

 and Koumpentoum, and on August 16 we sailed by steamship from Dakar for Algiers, going 

 via Las Palmas, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, and arriving at Algiers, September 2. 



Mr. Berky left Las Palmas June 4, 1912, going to Bathurst. From Bathurst he went 

 to Freetown and followed the railroad to its terminus at Baiima. Returning to Freetown, 

 he went thence to Conakry and observed at 8 stations along the railroad into the interior. 

 Ha\ang satisfactorily accomplished all that was possible under conditions most trying at 

 times, he proceeded to Algiers, where he arrived September 2. 



At ^ilgiers we unmediately took up the problems of the trans-Saharan expedition, in 

 which every possible assistance was received from the French Government. Commandant 

 Meynier, chef de cabinet of the governor-general of Algiers, who has seen many years of 

 service in the Sahara, advised us as to equipment, travel, etc., and arranged for the organi- 

 zation of caravan at Biskra. Observer H. E. Sawyer arrived on September 29. On 

 October 29 the trans-Saharan expedition was ready to set out from Biskra, in charge of Mr. 

 Berky, assisted by Mr. Sawj'er. Having concluded all matters with regard to this expedi- 

 tion, I thereupon, at the request of the director of the Algiers Observatory, again inter- 

 compared our respective magnetic standards, this work being completed December 10. 

 Director Gonnessiat and the members of his staff had done everything possible to further 

 the work of the expedition. On December 15, I sailed from Algiers, and reported at Wash- 

 ington, January 6, 1913. 



The total mileage traversed by me during the work was about 13,600; approximately 

 7,200 by steamship, 4,400 by railroad, and 2,000 in a 44-ton sloop. About 5,600 miles were 

 traversed in returning to Washington from the field of work, so that about 8,000 miles were 

 traveled in the field, giving an average of about 186 miles per station. The total mileage 

 covered by Observer Berky from Washington to field of work at Gibraltar and from Conakry 

 to Algiers via Boulogne and Marseille was about 10,200 8,900 by steamship and 1,300 

 by railroad. About 3,300 miles were traversed in coming to field of work at Gibraltar and 

 about 4,100 miles in returning to Algiers from Conakry, so that only about 2,800 miles were 

 required for the actual field travel, or, on an average, about 215 miles per station. 



C. C. Stewart, on Magnetic Work in Brazil, Peru and Bolivia, June 1910 to 



July 1911. 



Acting in accordance with the instructions issued to me on April 14, 1910, and after 

 about 2 months spent in preparation for the work to be undertaken, I sailed from New York 

 on June 15, 1910, for the port of Manaos, near the mouth of the Rio Negro, in Brazil, with 

 the following instrumental outfit: magnetometer No. 13; dip circle No. 177, with dip 

 needles Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, and intensity pair Nos. 3 and 4; box chronometer No. 270; pocket 

 chronometer No. 251, and Hamilton watch No. 51; pocket compass No. 2, and miscellaneous 

 accessories. A specially constructed launch, called El Imdn was shipped to me at 



