Solar Eclipse of May 28, 1900. :.7.) 



Our hut, which was to serve as sleeping and living room as well as 

 observatory, we had ready for occupation the same evening. 



During the fortnight preceding the eclipse, our time was fully 

 occupied in erecting and adjusting the three spectrographs, ccelostat, and 

 other instruments, and in taking trial photographs for determining 

 focus. We also made daily observations of the sun with a sextant 

 and artificial horizon for determining time, and checking the rate of 

 a chronometer which we had hired for use in our camp. Being far 

 from any telegraph station in direct communication with Algiers, we 

 were obliged to depend entirely on observation for our time on the 

 day of the eclipse. Working with instruments of very second-rate 

 quality, my brother usually succeeded in determining local time within 

 one or two seconds of error, taking the mean of a day's set of obser- 

 vations (usually employing the method of double altitudes). 



During the whole time we were in camp, we were ably assisted by our 

 host, M. Alvado, who took a most intelligent interest in all our 

 operations, and was ever ready and at hand to help us in any and 

 every difficulty with which we were confronted. We take this oppor- 

 tunity of expressing our high appreciation of his services, and esteem 

 for his character, and that of his wife, Madame Alvado. The latter 

 attended most assiduously to all our personal wants, and in this way 

 furthered most materially the objects of the expedition. 



Observations made on tlie Day of tlie Eclipse. 



Between 6 and 7 A.M. on May 28th I observed in the spectroscope 

 the position angles and approximate heights of all the prominences 

 then visible on the sun's limb. The results were then written out in 

 accordance with a previously arranged code, and sent on to Zeralda to 

 be telegraphed to Mr. A. C. D. Crommelin, at Algiers, for the use of 

 intending observers of the coronal structure near to prominences. 



The following table gives the position angles and heights ob- 

 served : 



Position angle. Solar latitude. Approximate height Ho. 



64 + 9 50" 



119 -46 15 



217 -36 115/130 



236 - 17 25 



305 +52 20 



The rest of the morning was devoted to final adjustments and 

 rehearsals ; cleaning all lenses and prisms, and in taking more photo- 

 graphs for focus in the 2-inch spectrograph. Soon after noon all slides 

 were filled ready for the eclipse ; and lastly, the 9-inch mirror and the 

 ccelostat mirror were both dusted and carefully polished with rouge to 

 remove all trace of tarnish. 



