HIGHEST METEOROLOGICAL STATION IN THE WORLD. 257 



ter, intended for the summit station, was carried some distance up on 

 one of tliese occasions. If a suitable site could be selected on the sum- 

 mit of Charcliaui, and self recording' instruments placed there, it seems 

 feasible to engage an intelligent native to ascend the mountain once a 

 month, or oftener, to keep the instruments in operation, since it is 

 known that some natives are less incapacitated by great altitudes than 

 are foreigners. It is possible that this plan may be carried out by the 

 Harvard Observatory, or, if it is found impracticable, a lower and more 

 accessible peak to the west of Charchani may be thus utilized. 



The comparatively elevated temperature and small snow-fall on the 

 high mountains of Peru offer opportunities for the establishment of 

 loftier meteorological stations than are afforded by any other country, 

 and the establishment of such a summit station by the Harvard Observ- 

 atory would be the crowning of its remarkable series of stations, 

 extending from IMollendo, on the Pacific coast, along the railroad which 

 crosses the desert of La Joya (4,140 feet), reaches the divide at Vin- 

 cocaya (14,300 feet), and descends the watershed to Puno on Lake Titi- 

 caca (12,540 feet). Another series, differing little in horizontal distance, 

 but relatively greatly separated vertically, for which the observatory 

 at Arequipa and the camp on Charchani already furnish steps, would 

 make it possible to obtain data of the greatest value for the progress 

 of meteorology, which is looking more and more to the study of the 

 upper air for its advance; and for this study the mountain summits 

 furnish the only practical method of obtaining continuous records 

 approximating the conditions prevailing in the free air, 

 SM 93 17 



