Observers' Field Reports 105 



boat, using Admiralty Chart No. 1044 as a guide. I am much indebted to Protector 

 Murphy for his invariable kindness and courtesy, and his assistance went far toward 

 making the trip a successful one. Some of the remote places visited were practically 

 virgin country, and Mr. Murphy has been able to make a valuable report on these little 

 known parts of Northern Territory. 



On my arrival at Darwin, I made a short trip to Point Charles Lighthouse, and later 

 took passage on the West Australian for Fremantle, terminating my work at Cottesloe, 

 October 26, 1914. 



The total time taken for the expedition from leaving Adelaide to arrival at Perth 

 was 225 days. Omitting the two stations in Queensland en route, the field time per 

 station was 5.4 days, and the average field travel per station about 162 miles. This 

 rather high average arises from the necessity of doubling back over the same route in the 

 various short expeditions from Darwin. The average cost per station exclusive of the 

 observer's salary was about $34, which includes the cost of going to and returning from 

 the field. 



F. Brown, on Magnetic Work in the Provinces of Hunan, Kweichow, and Kwangsi, 



China, March to July 1915. 



According to instructions received from my chief of party, Dr. C. K. Edmunds, 

 dated March 20, 1915, I left Canton with the following outfit: magnetometer No. 9, 

 Dover dip circle No. 177 with dip needles Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 6, two pocket chronometers, 

 one watch, observing tent, pocket compass, boiling-point apparatus with three thermom- 

 eters, and aneroid barometer. 



The route followed from Canton was northward through Kwangtung Province into 

 Hunan, by rail and by launch up the North River to Shiuchow, and thence over several 

 passes to Chenchow located at the head waters of the Lei River in Hunan Province. We 

 then descended the Lei River by small boat (see view 6 of Plate 1) to Hengchowfu, where 

 a caravan was formed with which we traveled westward to Yiianchow Hun. From 

 Yiianchow Hun we went down the Yuan River to Changteh, thence by carriers up the 

 valley of the Ling Kiang to Yungting, and thence in a westerly and southerly direction 

 to Tsunyi and Kweiyang in Kweichow Province. From Kweiyang the overland journey 

 was continued by carriers in southerly and easterly directions to Yiyiian at head of 

 navigation of Lung Kiang in Kwangsi Province. We finally descended the Lung Kiang 

 to Siang in a small boat, from which point Canton was reached by river launches and 

 steamers. 



Overland travel was made on foot and by chair, the full caravan consisting of 10 

 carriers and 6 chair bearers, 3 men to each chair. The roads, though narrow, were gen- 

 erally stone-paved and good. Views 5 and 7 of Plate 1 are typical of country traversed. 

 Poor roads were found in eastern Kweichow and Northern Kwangsi provinces. Con- 

 tinued wet weather caused occasional delays and considerable inconvenience while 

 traveling and observing. Broken bridges and flooded roads held the expedition a few 

 days in Kweichow, and delays by flood occurred on two occasions in upper Kwangsi 

 when boat service was interrupted at Wuchow. In many of the mountainous districts 

 traversed, robbers and bandits were numerous, but local officials always provided an 

 adequate escort of regular soldiers. No hostility was shown by the people, who, however, 

 were usually suspicious and very inquisitive, especially in Hunan Province. Several 

 times the expedition was suspected of being engaged on secret service work, land survey- 

 ing, and mapping, but no very serious opposition was encountered. 



The expedition left Canton on March 23 and returned July 22, 1915, taking a total of 

 122 days for 31 stations and making the average field time for a station 3.3 days. The 



