Ski'TEMBi:r io, 1896] 



NA TURE 



445 



It appears that 



"The mishap arose from a little want of familiarity with the 

 Russian cartography of these parts, which is naturally better 

 than ours. It turned out that the sounthngs of the deeper por- 

 tions were, so to say, in fathoms and the shallower in feet. .A. 

 few of the deeper soundings having been verified by the lead, 

 the rest were taken for granted, with the unpleasant result 

 already detailed." 



Still, in spite of this mishap, everybody working with a 

 will, things were more or less shipshape on the eclipse 

 morning. There had not been many opportunities of ad- 

 justment, but, not unmindful of possibilities, I had taken 

 the precaution of having every portion of the more im- 

 portant instruments adjusted, and each adjustment plamly 

 marked before I sent it oft". 



Mr. Shackleton obtained twenty-one photographs with 

 the prismatic camera, thirteen during totality, and five 

 of the corona. I have already enlarged and begun 

 to discuss these photographs, and I have seen enough 

 already to be able to say that in my opinion the results 

 obtained are of the highest possible value. In fact, we 

 may almost say that 

 the long - talked - of 

 " tlash " has at last 

 been photographed. 

 This brmgs a test to 

 apply to contending 

 theories, and there will 

 be a good deal to be 

 writtenabout it lateron. 



It is not too much to 

 say that " the winter 

 of our discontent " at 

 Kio is turned into 

 " glorious summer " 

 by the sun of Novaya 

 Zemlya ! 



I must not forget to 

 add that the photo- 

 graphs of the corona, 

 though they are of 

 much lower value from 

 the theoretical point 

 of view, will be very 

 useful in enabling the 

 change in the appear- 

 ances of the corona 

 from eclipse to eclipse 

 in relation to the 

 sun-spot period, to be '^'<'- 



chronicled. 



The Yorkshire Daily Post states that Dr. Stone, who 

 also accompanied Sir George Baden-Powell, has obtained 

 some photographs of spectra. 



1 must be permitted one other extract from Mr. 

 Shackleton's statement, as it indicates the success of Sir 

 (ieorge Baden- Powell's cruise in another direction, and is 

 interesting as an account by an eye-witness of a most 

 interesting event. 



" After the eclipse we were busy repacking and getting all on 

 board again. Our intention had been to go to the northern 

 island to see about the safety of some stores which had been 

 left there for Dr. Nansen, but we found it prudent to make 

 direct for Hammerfest. Some of the Russian astronomers 

 were about to make the attempt to cross Novaya Zemlya by 

 means of dogs and sledges. . . ." 



"At Hammerfest, on our return, we heard that Dr. Nansen 

 had arrived outside, and as the steamship Tlior came in and 

 dropped anchor alongside, the intrepid explorer recognised Sir 

 (leorge, whom he knew well, and halloed, ' Hallo, Baden- 

 I'oweil, is that you? I did'nt expect to see you here.' Our 

 cutter was cut, and at once Sir George was rowed off to the 

 Thor. Dr. Nansen returned with him immediately, to the dis- 

 appointment of the Norwegians, wlio were playing their 



NO. 1402, VOL. 54] 



National Anthem, and making other demonstrations in his 

 honour. This was on Tuesday, the iSth. Mrs. Nansen 

 arrived by express steamer, and the Doctor was very anxious to 

 see her again. When she arrived there was an affecting scene. 

 The reunion proved too much for the feelings of the faithful 

 wife, who fainted away, and did not recover consciousness for a 

 considerable time. Then came redoubled rejoicings. The 

 people of Hammerfest were too much delighted to leave their 

 countryman much opportunity of private happiness, and made a 

 feast in the pubhc hall. Dr. Nansen was very anxious about 

 the FraiH, though he felt quite confident that she would be 

 coming in. ' It is only,' said he, ' a question of a week or two,' 

 but at the same time he appeared disappointed that she had not 

 preceded him. Our yacht took Nansen on to Tromso, but I 

 left her at Hammerfest to return by express steamer. The Fra?n, 

 as you will have seen from the papers, turned in near Tromso. 

 When our steamer reached Tromso the people there were very 

 much disappointed that we had not brought Nansen back with 

 us. At Bodo we learnt of the receipt of a telegram announcing 

 that the Frain had returned, but at first were inclined to treat 

 the news as a joke. It, however, turned out to be correct ; so 

 for the second time we hoisted all our flags and bunting in 

 honour of the Arctic exploring party." 



1. — Lieut. Martin, R.N., setting up a disc. 



Mr. Shackleton is loud in his acknowledgment of the 

 kindness shown him by Sir George and Lady Baden- 

 Powell, and they may, I think, rest assured that the 

 scientific public of these islands, to speak of no wider 

 territory, are grateful to them for their efiforts in the cause 

 of science. J. Norjman Lockyer. 



NOTES. 



The Sanitary Institute has been holding its Congress at New- 

 castle-on-Tyne during the past week, and has got through a great 

 deal of work. The Congress was opened on September 2 by 

 the Duke of Cambridge, as President of the Sanitary Institute, 

 after which the inaugural address was delivered by Earl Percy, 

 the President of the Congress. 



The steam-yacht IVindward, with four members of Mr. 

 Jackson's expedition on board, arrived in the Thames on Satur- 

 day. The yacht was the bearer of a voluminous mail from the 

 leader of the expedition, some valuable maps, and several cases 

 of scientific collections. The returned explorers, as was to be 



