THE AREQUIPA STATION. 521 



chiefly on the self-recording instruments of Kichard Freres. The sta- 

 tion was established by the writer in 1893, and was visited later by 

 different members of the observatory, or by some person engaged espe- 

 cially for the purpose. At such visits the observer rewound the self- 

 recording instruments and made personal observations. This station 

 was continued for about seven years. The records were broken, and 

 not always of the highest accuracy, but it is believed that they will be 

 of service to meteorology. Personal observations of the highest pre- 

 cision at this station are much to be desired, but a special gift for this 

 purpose would be necessary. Few persons could live, even for a few 

 days, at such an altitude. Nearly every one suffers from mountain sick- 

 ness,, and sometimes very severely. Nevertheless, there are sufficiently 

 well educated persons, born in Peru at a high altitude, who could be 

 engaged for a reasonable sum to pass alternate weeks at the summit. 

 In this way, for a few thousand dollars, complete records of great pre- 

 cision and value to science might be obtained. There are also prob- 

 lems in astronomy and physics, which could be investigated at a well- 

 equipped station at such an altitude, which perhaps can never be 

 solved at sea-level. 



Arequipa is a city of about thirty thousand inhabitants. It lies 

 on the western slope of the Cordillera at an elevation of seven thou- 

 sand five hundred feet. No more beautiful view can well be imagined 

 than that which is seen as one approaches Arequipa from the coast. It 

 is built of a soft white volcanic stone, and in the distance appears to be 

 a city of marble. It is surrounded by wide-spreading green fields of 

 wheat, corn and alfalfa. It is in a region of volcanoes and earth- 

 quakes, but the danger from these is slight, either to observers or to 

 instruments. The observatory is situated on rising ground, about two 

 miles north of the city, at an elevation of eight thousand feet above 

 sea-level. To the north rises the great range Chachani, about twenty 

 thousand feet in elevation; to the northeast El Misti, a volcanic cone 

 nineteen thousand feet high; and to the east Pichu-Pichu, over seven- 

 teen thousand feet high. 



The climate of Arequipa is superb for those who do not object to a 

 somewhat rarefied and dry atmosphere. There is scarcely any seasonal 

 change in temperature during the year, though the diurnal range is 

 fairly large. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures for the 

 year 1902 were 68° and 49°. In the observatory residence, which is 

 built of stone, the temperature without artificial heat ranges between 

 60° and 65° Fahrenheit. The rainfall is slight, amounting to only two 

 or three inches during the year. Agricultural pursuits are possible 

 only by means of irrigation. Around the fertile fields, in whose 

 center lies the city, extend endless barren pampas. All the waters of 

 the Chili River, however, are now well utilized, and there is no other 

 convenient supply. 



