NO. 4 SITE FOR SOLAR-RADIATION STATION MOORE 7 



was not possible in the darkness. Owing to the great skill of the 

 native boys, the landing of ourselves and our boxes was made without 

 mishap. 



The ascent of the peak or " vulcan," as the Portuguese call it, was to 

 start from the town of Cova Figuiera, about 20 miles from San Filipe. 

 There being no roads of any consequence outside of the town of 

 San Filipe, we proceeded mule-back to Cova Figuiera, accompanied by 

 our guide and interpreter whom we had brought with us from St. Vin- 

 cent. The boxes were carried from San Filipe to Cova Figuiera on 

 the shoulders of native men, and up the ascent from the latter place 

 to the peak by men and women. The Cape Verde Islanders are truly 

 marvels at carrying heavy burdens up mountains. The women car- 

 ried boxes weighing around 70 pounds on their heads up the 4,500- 

 foot climb with apparently no exertion whatever. 



A camp site was chosen on a smaller peak just north of the main 

 cone and at 6,000 feet above sea-level. The " vulcan " rises to about 

 9,000 feet elevation, but its extreme ruggedness and the smoke issuing 

 from the summit precluded its selection for observing purposes. The 

 observing peak was located at approximately latitude 14° 57' N, and 

 longitude 24° 21' W. 



The peak on which observations were made would not have been 

 practical for a permanent station, owing to its proximity to the smok- 

 ing volcano, but trips were made to both the northern and southern 

 outer rims of the main crater to investigate possible observatory sites at 

 those points. On the north rim a place was found at 6,700 feet eleva- 

 tion, but there was a much better site on the south rim near Ponto 

 Alto do Sul, an 8,000-foot peak. Water would have been available 

 from the San Filipe-Cova Figuiera pipe line, about 3 miles distant. 



We spent a few days over a month on Fogo Peak, but found extreme 

 haziness most of the time. Clouds were a negligible factor, but the 

 haze which extended far above the summit of the volcano was much 

 too bad for a station site. The cloudlessness, lack of high winds, dry 

 air, and large range of temperature between day and night were fav- 

 orable features, but the intense haze and the fact that thunderstorms 

 arc prevalent there during the summer months more than ofifset the 

 good qualities. 



Owing to a misunderstanding on the part of the native in charge of 

 our packing from the peak to Cova Figuiera, we had to remain in San 

 Filipe for two weeks awaiting the inter-island steamer to return to 

 St. Vincent and nearly a week longer in the latter place awaiting the 

 steamer for Madeira. A. F. Pacey, our good English friend in St. Vin- 

 cent, entertained us and rendered us much aid, both before and after 



