LOWER RIO BHAVO. 



63 



The result of the astronomical ohservations, and some of the observations themselves, will be 

 found in the Astronomical Appendix. 



Kiuggoltl Barracks and Uio Gramle ^iiy. 



ThrouMi the courtesy of Major Paul, the commanding officer at Kinggold BarracTcs, the 

 observatory was placed within the enclosure of the military grounds, and west of the officers' 

 quarters. The height of this point above the sea, by the barometer, is 521 feet ; the magnetic 

 dip 52° 2T, and the declination 9° 15' east. The observatory was 70 feet above the bed of the 

 river, so that the river-bed is 451 feet above the sea at this point. The distance to the sea, 

 measured by the sinuosities of the river, is 241 miles; the direct measurement only 75 miles. 

 If the river had a direct run to the level of the sea, it would have a fall of six feet to the mile, 

 and would probably empty itself in dry seasons, so that the tortuous course of the river, so vexa- 

 tious to the traveller, is of importance in an economical point of view. My observations embraced 



month 



oo 



by the sea-breeze, which was felt here daily with great force. Dr. Brown, assistant surgeon 

 United States army, stationed at this post, has kindly furnished me with the meteorological 

 journal kept by him for several years, and I give it in place of my own, as it extends over a much 

 greater space of time, and will, therefore, afford a much more comprehensive view of the climate. 

 It may, also, be taken as a fair type of the climate of that region of country which extends from 

 Brownsville to Eagle Pass. It will be seen from this and subsequent records how dry the country 

 becomes as we go towards the centre of the continent. 



The beautiful town of Roma, 16^ miles above Ringgold Barracks, is the present head of steam- 

 boat navigation ; it is built upon a high bluff of yellowish sandstone, containing ferruginous 

 nodules. When I visited this small town, I was at a loss to know how such fine residences 

 and warehouses, all recently built, could be sustained by its trade; but being the guest of the 

 owner of one of these large establishments, I did not think proper to be very inquisitive. At night, 

 -when I went out to take my observations for the determination of the latitude and longitude of 



