TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 281 



2. Peraui. By Lieut. -Colonel G. S. F. Napieb. 



Why the independence and prosperity of Persia ai'e impoi-tant to England 

 on strategic, commercial, and political grounds : — First British Mission to Persia. 

 Early Persian diplomatic relations with European Powers. Napoleon's intrigue 

 in Persia. Russian and Turkish encroachments on Persia in nineteenth century. 

 Russian intrigues. Gennany's policy to prevent any understanding between Russia 

 and England. King Edward the Peacemaker. Anglo-French Entente. Anglo- 

 Russian Convention of 1907. Spheres of interest in Persia. The new Anglo- 

 Persian agreement. Order and security in the provinces and cheap and efficient 

 transport the crying needs of Persia. Robber bands. E.xtinction of the powerful 

 robber combine under Reza Khan Juzdani and Jafar Kuli in the Isfahan area 

 and of the Jangalis under Kuchik Khan on the shores of the Caspian. Shortage 

 of transport animals in Persia owing to the war and to famine. Active resump- 

 tion of export and import trade delayed by present heavy cost of transport. Pro- 

 vision in new agreement to co-operate in railway construction and other forms 

 of transport. Importance of motor transport to develop the country and act as 

 pioneers to the railways. Advantage of unlimited cheap petrol from the Anglo- 

 Persian and Baku oilfields. Existing roads available for motor traiisport. Rail- 

 ways to the frontier on east and west and new Bushire-Borasjun line. Tehran, 

 Roads therefrom. The Lynch road from Tehran through Kum and Kashan on 

 to Isfahan. The Isfahan-Shiraz road. The road from Baghdad. 



3. Some New Experim-ents in Atmospheric EJectricity, and their 



Possible Connection with Terrestrial Magnetism. 



By E. A. Eeeves. 



The experiments described in this paper resulted from investigations made 

 in the subject of Terrestrial Magnetism, and appear to show that there is^ a 

 more or less permanent static electric field in the lower atmosphere, with its 

 lines of force connected with the rotation axis of the earth. The question of 

 the ixissibility of a connection between this supposed field and the magnetism 

 of the earth is raised. With a special apparatus it is shown that a strip of 

 paper or other light material, when electrically charged and covered with a 

 glass shade, coated with shellac varnish, will, if placed on a stand and set up 

 on high open ground away from obstructions, come to rest within a degree or 

 two of the true north and south points. In exceptional circumstances the line 

 indicated is approximately at right angles to this line, that is, true east and 

 west ; but still the connection is with the rotation axis of the earth, and not 

 with the magnetic meridian. Observations have been made in various parts 

 for years past, and the results of some of these will be shown at the meeting. 

 The apparatus and method of using it are described, and the state of the 

 atmosphere, localities, and othei' conditions under which the observations are 

 likely to give the most satisfactory results are given in detail. When the 

 indicator does not come to rest it continues to oscillate on either side of the 

 true north and south points, and the mean of these is very nearly the line 

 of the rotation or geographical axis. 



The principal object the author has in bringing the results of these observa- 

 tions to notice, now for the first time, is that they may induce others to take 

 i)p interest in the subject and continue experiments in other parts of the 

 world. 8n far his own experiments have only been earned out in Ponth-Fast 

 Fncfland. but one or two friends have olitained much the same results in other 

 parts of the country, and abroad. 



4. Air Photography. By Colonel Winterbotham, B.E. 



5. Aeroplane Photo Surveys in the East. 

 By Captain H. Hamshaw Thomas. 



V 2 



