220 



TRANSIT OF VENUS, 1874. KAILUA. 



Mr. J. M. LLOYD, Navigating Lieutenant, was appointed to take time for 

 me. The instruments were so arranged that at the time of actual observation 

 it should be possible for a person stationed at the Transit- Clock to record 

 time for an observer at the Equatoreal. 



Eight marines were told off, four at a time, under the command of a 

 sergeant, to keep silence during the time of observation. A native was 

 supplied by Mr. KAAI to act as interpreter to the marines in case of necessity. 

 To each of the marines was given a certain space to watch and to prevent the 

 natives from approaching too near. Captain VAN DER MEULEN was exceedingly 

 anxious to render all possible assistance. 



Everything appeared to be most favourable until about 2 P.M. on Decem- 

 ber 8, when clouds began to drift from the mountains towards the sea. The 

 natives crowded in hundreds at a short distance to watch our proceedings, 

 but in no way whatever did they disturb us. An hour before the predicted 

 time the adjustments and motions were examined and found to be in good 

 order. The micrometer and eye-pieces could be interchanged easily in 

 15 seconds. 



Time by the 

 Transit-Clock. 



20. 21. 



20. 30. 



20. 34. 



20. 38. 30. 



20.41. 



20. 48. 50. 



Clouds obscured the Sun. They continued off and on for some 

 time. 



Clouds still continue. I have almost given up hopes of using 

 the double image micrometer before internal contact on 

 account of the clouds. Airy's eye-piece is inserted with a 

 graduated neutral tint glass. 



Clouds off. Planet nearly half way on. Limbs of Sun and 

 Venus boiling badly. 



PlaneT more than half way on, seen through thin clouds with- 

 out the dark glass. Limbs of Sun and Venus sharp. 

 Silence " called. 



Clearer. Tried micrometer. Clouds immediately came over. 

 Changed to Airy's eye-piece. 



The edge of Venus, outside the limb of the Sun was shown by 

 a fine line of light, not visible quite all round, (and therefore, 

 more correctly speaking, it was shown by two fine lines of 

 light). The thread of light at the north cusp was longer 

 than the other. 



