204 Ascent and Measurement of Wha-ra-rai, 



but the tube had a little play : these, with a few ounces of 

 mercury, carried in a stone or wooden bottle, completed the 

 whole apparatus. 



For observing with this instrument, the mercury in the 

 bottle is to be poured into a small open cup ; the stopper is 

 then removed from the tube, and the vacancy in it must be 

 filled up brimful with mercury; then, with a finger placed 

 over the mouth of the tube, that end of it is to be inverted 

 into the mercury in the cup, taking care not to withdraw the 

 finger until it is well immerged. The mercury in the tube 

 will then instantly sink down to its proper height, according 

 to the weight or pressure of the atmosphere on its external 

 surface at the time and place of observation ; and all that is 

 further necessary to be done is to hold the tube quite upright, 

 and measure, with the brass scale, the exact height of the 

 column of mercury in the tube above the surface of the mer- 

 cury in the cup, which will give the true height of the 

 barometer at each station. 



I had but one tube, which I was fortunate enough to pre- 

 serve whole in my different journeys ; but, to guard against 

 accident, several of these tubes may be loosely packed in the 

 same case, by rolling each of them up in a piece of cloth ; 

 and it is almost needless to observe, that, in carrying them, 

 the stopper ends should be kept uppermost. This case may 

 be slung on a man's back, and carried with ease and safety 

 over the most rugged mountains. 



On the morning of the 17th we had much difficulty in 

 getting the party ready, and collecting together the provisions 

 for our journey, which consisted of live hogs, poultry, taro, 

 yams, cocoa nuts, and dried fish, in quantities that loaded 

 upwards of twenty men ; but it was not possible to ascertain 

 the number of carriers attached to the party, as some were 

 sent on before, and some in different directions, to collect 

 their loads, with orders either to follow or meet us on our way 

 up. There were others appointed to carry our luggage ; one 

 carried a kettle, another a gridiron, and a third, from the 

 nature of his office, might be termed a butler, as he took 

 charge of our liquor-case. Among other appointments we 

 found that each of us had a man, whose sole business was to 

 carry the cloth and mats for sleeping on, spread the couch at 

 night, and roll it up again in the morning ; in short, there was 

 no end to these various appointments, where the claimants for 

 service were so numerous. Many of them, however, were 

 unwilling to take a heavy load, but merely took some little 

 thing or other, that they might be considered as belonging to 

 the party, and by that means be allowed to accompany us ; 



