184 Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



It was while at Kita on September 2 that we had the first of the tropical rains. Kita 

 was formerly the eastern terminus of the railroad, and the scene of numerous and severe 

 troubles with the natives. A long shed near the residency housed the motor-lorries which 

 the government used in transporting to the Niger before the extension of the railway to 

 Koulikoro. Mahina, the railroad station near the large native town of Bafulabe, where 

 the brick-yards which supply the brick and tiles for all building east of this point are 

 located, was reached September 6, and Kayes, the highest point of navigation on the 

 Senegal River, was reached September 16. Under ordinary conditions, ocean-going 

 steamers (branch boats) come up to the latter place in the rainy season. This year, 

 because of so little rain, only one steamer reached Kayes. The railroad extends about 

 50 kilometers down the river to Ambidi, and at this point I had expected to take the mail 

 steamer Barni for the remainder of the journey to the mouth of the river. After some 

 delay, word was received that the steamer was aground and would be unable to ascend 

 higher than Bakel. I, therefore, secured a barge and the necessary provisions, and 

 succeeded in reaching Bakel at noon September 25. We left Bakel on Saturday, Septem- 

 ber 27, for the trip down river to Matam, where we arrived on the afternoon of the following 

 Tuesday, having spent all of Sunday and a portion of Monday stranded in the shallow 

 waters of the river. Advantage was taken of the departure of the steamer Dioula to 

 proceed to Podor, where an additional station was occupied before the return of the Barni 

 upon her succeeding trip, by which I traveled to St. Louis. The magnetic station at 

 Matam, which was occupied on October 2, is probably within 300 meters, and that at 

 Podor within 30 meters, of de Vansaay's stations of 1895. In the dry season it requires 

 3 months to make the trip down the Niger by barge from the terminus of the railroad 

 at Ambidi to St. Louis because of the low condition of the water in that season. The 

 barge must be moved on wooden rollers from one water-hole to the next. 



After reaching St. Louis on October 20, I proceeded by rail to Dakar, where I 

 arrived the following day, and was disappointed to discover that owing to my delayed 

 arrival my personal and official mail had been returned by the postal authorities to 

 Washington. From Dakar the 2 Arabs who had been our guides on the desert expedition 

 were returned to Biskra, Algeria, by way of Marseille. After exactly reoccupying the 



1912 station at Dakar, I went to Bathurst, Gambia, where the 1912 station was closely 

 reoccupied, and returned to Dakar in order to secure passage for Monrovia, Liberia. 

 Monrovia was reached on December 18 and observations made at approximately the 

 same point as that occupied by the Goldfinch in 1905, opportunity having been afforded 

 on the passage of making observations at Bissao and Bulama in Portuguese Guinea. 

 From Monrovia I made my way along the coast eastward to Lagos, Nigeria, making 

 stops at Grand Bassam, Sekondi, and Lome, from each of which points inland trips were 

 made over the railroads to their respective termini. 



Work in Nigeria began after arriving in Lagos March 15. Mr. Berky's station of 



1913 was reoccupied, and various stations were made along the railroad to its terminus, 

 Kano. Returning to Zaria on the railroad, I went to Jenjere by the narrow-gage branch 

 which taps the tin-mine district of the Bauchi plateau, and finished arrangements for the 

 overland trip to Yola. During the first part of this trip to Bauchi, the outfit was carried 

 by donkeys, after which native carriers were used. From Bauchi to Shillem the natives 

 were very poor and conditions seemed to threaten an immediate famine. Guinea corn 

 was the only food available for both man and beast. Jimeta, the small native town and 

 port of Yola, was reached June 10. Marching up the Benue River with carriers, I arrived 

 at ( laroua, Cameroun, on the night of June 20. Having completed magnetic observations, 

 I started back on June 24. 



A steel barge manned by 10 native punters was used for the descent of the Benue 

 to Ibi, with intermediate stops at Lau and Amar. When there is high water, barges 



