312 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



When the author left Washington, it had been arranged that he would occupy, 

 conjointly with Dr. Abbot of the Smithsonian Institution, La Paz, Bolivia, in 

 order that he might simulate there conditions which he encountered at his station 

 (Corona, Colorado), the elevation of which is 12,000 feet, during the eclipse 

 of June 8, 1918. As Dr. Abbot intended to look after the photographic work, 

 the author did not provide himself with special photographic apphances for 

 purely astronomical work. However, upon arrival in England, it was found 

 impracticable to reach a South American station in time for the echpse; 

 accordingly it was decided to proceed to Cape Palmas, Liberia, instead. 



Cape Palmas was one of 5 principal stations at which magnetic and allied 

 observations were carried out by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism 

 in connection with the solar echpse of May 29, 1919. Two of these stations, 

 Sobral, Brazil, in charge of Mr. D. M. Wise, assisted by Mr. A. Thomson, and 

 Cape Palmas, were inside the belt of totality. A third station, at Huayao, 

 Peru, north of the totahty belt, was in charge of Dr. H. M. W. Edmonds; the 

 fourth station south of the belt of totahty, at Puerto Deseado, Argentina, was 

 in charge of Mr. A. Sterhng; and the fifth, about 100 miles north of the belt 

 of totality, at Campo, Cameroun, was in charge of Mr. Frederick Brown. 

 Observations were also made at a secondary station, Washington, by Mr. 

 C. R. Duvall. 



In addition to these stations, special magnetic observations were made at 

 the Department's magnetic observatory at Watheroo, Western AustraUa, 

 and at observatories all over the globe, both inside and outside of the region 

 of visibihty of the eclipse. Reports have already been received from many of 

 these foreign observatories, indicating that the magnetic conditions were 

 ideal for the detection of a possible magnetic effect of the order to be expected 

 from our previous eclipse magnetic observations.. 



The observational program at Cape Palmas included the following : magnetic 

 and electric observations; meteorological observations, shadow-band observa- 

 tions; times of contacts, and photographs of the solar corona such as could 

 be obtained with the apphances on hand. This comprehensive program was 

 carried out successfully, excepting the atmospheric-electric work, which, 

 owing to the deterioration of the dry-cell batteries secured in England, had 

 to be abandoned. Fortunately, however, another party of the Department 

 of Terrestrial Magnetism, stationed at Sobral, Brazil, where the British party 

 under Dr. Crommelin was located, carried out a full program of magnetic 

 and electric work. 



The slides shown gave a general view of the station and facilities available 

 at Cape Palmas, as also two views taken during totahty with a small camera, 

 which showed clearly the remarkable solar prominence of May 29, as well as 

 the pronounced coronal extensions. Through the courtesy of Dr. Eddington, 

 of Cambridge University, it was likewise possible to show a shde made from 

 a photograph secured by him at his station on the Isle of Principe. 



The eclipse of May 29 as seen at Cape Palmas was not nearly as dark, in 

 spite of its long duration, as the one of June 8 of last year, as observed by 

 the author at his mountain station. Corona, Colorado, where the latter echpse 

 lasted but 1^ minutes. There was a marked difference in light, both as seen 

 visually and as shown by the photographs, between the inner corona and the 

 outer extensions. 



Although three observers took part in the shadow-band observations, at 

 different points, following even greater precautions than were taken at Corona 

 during the eclipse of last year, no shadow bands were observed at Cape Palmas 

 by the various observers, whereas they were clearly observed at Corona. 



A definite indication was again had with regard to the small magnetic perturba- 

 tion or oscillation which, in accordance with previous experience, takes place 



