386 Dr. K. <'n]K'l;unl. Observations of // ,SV<//- 



At St. Pancras Station I had the pleasure of joining Sir Norman 

 Lockycr and his party, who, like oursi'lv< -. were l>oiind for Santa Pola. 



Early on the 16th we reached Gibraltar, where we were met by 

 another member of our Edinburgh party, Mr. Franklin-Adams, from 

 Machrihanish, who had most thoughtfully arranged for the transfer of 

 all our eclipse apparatus from the "Oruba" to H.M.S. "Theseus," 

 which the Admiralty had generously placed at the disposal of the Joint 

 Committee. We were most cordially welcomed on board the " Theseus " 

 by Captain Tisdall, who introduced us to his officers, and assigned to us 

 our most comfortable quarters. 



The few days spent on board the " Theseus " passed most pleasantly. 

 With the greatest interest we followed the various forms of drill, and 

 were greatly struck by the promptitude and precision with which every 

 order was carried out. 



On landing at Santa Pola on the afternoon of the 17th we were 

 received with the utmost courtesy by the Alcalde and other Spanish 

 authorities, who at once assured us of all possible assistance in the 

 furtherance of our work. The interchange of courtesies being over, we 

 at once proceeded to the camp already laid out for Sir Xorman Lockyer's 

 party. Abundant space had been left for the installation of our appa- 

 ratus, but on closer examination of the ground we found the subsoil too 

 light and sandy to afford the firm foundation required by our heavy 

 instruments. We had therefore to select another site. This we found 

 in the upper part of the town, in a barley-field, from which the crop had 

 been gathered a few days before. Here the solid rock, covered only by 

 a thin layer of soil, afforded an ideal foundation for all our apparatus, 

 while the neighlxmring walls or houses protected the site from the 

 prevailing winds without unduly obstructing the view. 



To the south-east of the selected spot stood a large barn, which 

 chanced to l>e vacant in consequence of a law suit, and was therefore 

 called " La Casa del Pleito." This barn was allotted to us by the ever- 

 obliging Alcalde, and gave the name to our station. It served in the 

 threefold capacity of a store-place for our empty boxes, a photographic 

 lalwratory, and a most welcome retreat from the burning rays of the 

 noonday sun. 



While our instruments were being landed and carted up on the 

 morning of the 18th, we commenced laying out and preparing the 

 necessary foundations for them. In this, as in all our work, we were 

 most efficiently helped by a detachment of junior officers and men from 

 the " Theseus." 



For the first few days there was a good deal of cloud, by night as 

 well as by day, and it was only with difficulty that the exact observa- 

 tions requisite for setting up the 40-foot were secured. 



Saturday, the 19th, was a red-letter day for us, as well as for our 

 countrymen throughout the world. With his usual thoughtful care, 



