64$ ulloa's voyage to south America. 



Indefatigable zeal for the perfedion of the work, were particularly attentive in ob- 

 ferving the greateft obliquity of the ecliptic ; at which obfervations we alfo affifted ; 

 but feveral accidents hindered them from being carried on without interruption. They 

 therefore thought it moft agreeable to their charafter, and the commiflion with which 

 they had been honoured, to fpend fome time in afcertaining this important point, than 

 to leave the country before their obfervations were completed. Not withftan ding their 

 llay was attended with fo much inconvenience and fatigue, they could not think of 

 leaving, imdetermined, a difficulty occafioned by a certain motion which they obferved 

 in the ftars. In order to afcertain with the greateft accuracy the quantity of the arch, 

 they divided themfelves into two companies, Bouguer being at the head of one, and 

 M. de la Condamine, accompanied by M. Berguin, at that of the other ; the latter, 

 while the geometrical menfuration was carrying on, applied himfelf with indefatigable 

 labour, and admirable Ikill, in drawing maps of the country, in order to ered the 

 fignals in the moft advantageous places. He alfo affifted both companies in their 

 menfurations of the two bafes, which ferved to prove the accuracy of the operations. 

 And, laftly, he was prefent at making the aftronomical obfervations. But before the 

 repetition was undertaken, M. de la Condamine employed himfelf in eredting two 

 obelifks at the extremities of the bafe of Yaruqui, as monuments of this tranfadion : 

 this fpot having been the foundation of the whole wojk. Various were the fentiments 

 with regard to the infcription proper to be engraved on them ; and indeed the diffi- 

 culties attending this particular, feemingly of no great importance, were fuch, as 

 could not be removed till the affair was entirely dropt, on account of other things of 

 real concern, and which would admit of no delay. It was however unanimoufly con- 

 cluded, that the whole affair fhould be referred to His Majefty's pleafure after our 

 arrival in Spain. Accordingly in the year 1746, the Marquis de la Enfenada, equally 

 diftinguiftied as a ftatefman, and a patron of real knowledge, being at'^that time 

 fecretary of ftate for the Indies, fent over, in His Majefty's name, the following in- 

 fcription : 



Philippo V. 



Hifpaniarum, & Indiarum Rege Catholico, 



LuDovici XV. 



Regis Chriftianiffimi Poftulatis, Regise Scientiarum 



Academias Parifienfis 



Votis Annuente, ac Favente, 



LuDOV. GoDiN, Petrus Bouguer, 



Car. Maria de la Condamine, 



Ejufdem Academias Socii, 



Ipfius Chriftianiffimi Regis Juffu, & Munificentia, 



Ad Metiendos in ^quinodiali Plaga 



Terreftres Gradus, 



Quo vera Terrae Figura Certiu's Innotefceret, 



In Peruvian! Miffi 5 



Simulque 



Georgius Juan, S. Johannis Hierofolymitani Ord. 



Eques, & 



Antonius de Ulloa, 



Uterque Navium Bellicarum Vice-praefedi, et Mathematicis Difciplinis Eruditi, 



Catholici 



