324 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



After the conclusion of the work in Africa in October 1920, Mr. 

 Brown proceeded to Madagascar, going from Beira by way of Porto 

 Ameha to Majunga on the northwest coast of the island, making use of 

 the opportunity en route to secure observations at the 1909 station at 

 Mozambique. He went directly from Majunga to the capital, Tanan- 

 arive, where he was cordially received by the Governor-General and 

 accorded every facility for carrying out the proposed program of work 

 in the island. Instructions were telegraphed to the various adminis- 

 trators of the several districts to be traversed to cooperate as occasion 

 required, with the result that there was scarcely any delay in prose- 

 cuting the work which occupied the following 8 months. An inter- 

 comparison of instruments was made at the Tananarive Observatory 

 with the effective cooperation of Father Colin, S. J., the director. 

 Because of excessive magnetic disturbances in the region about Tanan- 

 arive, a large number of auxiliary stations was occupied, particularly 

 along the route from Majunga to Tananarive. Elsewhere in the island 

 there was less necessity for such multiplicity of stations. 



Leaving Tananarive on November 25, Mr. Brown traveled south- 

 westward with carriers along the high ridge in the east-central portion 

 of the island as far as Betroka, whence he turned westward and 

 followed the Onilahy River downward to the coast at Tulear. Leaving 

 that point on January 9, 1921, for Fort Dauphin, he took a route along 

 the coast, intending to follow the shore as far as Cap Sainte Marie. 

 The region was poorly supplied with water and there was suffering 

 among his men before he reached Androka; marching along the sea- 

 sand was intolerable during the middle of the day. From Androka to 

 Fort Dauphin conditions were not favorable, as there had been a three- 

 year drought and famine conditions prevailed, making the question of 

 food-supply for the men a serious one. Many carriers gave up from 

 exhaustion; nevertheless, Mr. Brown reached Cap Sainte Marie on 

 January 25, a point seldom visited by white men on account of the 

 scarcity of water. The return northward could not be made by sea, 

 as had been hoped, without an extended delay waiting for steamer 

 service, the season of prevailing northeasterly winds and bad weather 

 preventing the use of small sailing-craft or canoes. An overland 

 route paralleling the eastern coast was therefore taken; Mr. Brown 

 arrived once more in Tananarive on March 22. Setting out again on 

 April 9 and proceeding northward with carriers, he followed the high 

 plateau as far as Mandritsara, whence he turned eastward to the 

 coast, following it to the northern extremity of the island at Diego 

 Suarez. Here he joined a coastal steamer that was making the trip 

 along the west coast. Stops of sufficient length to allow time for obser- 

 vations were made at Hellville and Ananalava. He remained with the 

 steamer as far south as Ambohibe, about 200 km. north of Tulear, and 

 traveled thence northward overland a distance of about 500 km. to 



