26 National Geographic Magazine. 
invariably shown the utmost politeness, but sometimes this polite- 
ness has been visibly tinged with suspicion. The measurements 
in Peru and Chili were made amid the closing scenes of the war 
between the countries. Upon the arrival of the expedition in 
Lima, an interview was had with the Chilian Commander-in- 
Chief who had possession of the city, and permission was 
requested and readily granted to occupy a station in Arica. 
Upon arriving at the latter place some days after, the Chilian 
governor in charge was found to have instructions to facilitate 
the work, and readily granted permission to establish the observa- 
tory in a convenient locality, but flatly refused to allow a wire to 
be extended to the telegraph office, and also refused to forward 
to his immediate superior, a request that it might be allowed. 
He evidently supposed the party were emissaries of the United 
States, sent to treat secretly with conquered Peru, but how he 
expected this was to be done remains a secret. By a vigorous 
use of the telegraph in communicating with the U. S. Ministers 
to both Chili and Peru, his objections were silenced, and the wire 
was put up. The observatory at Arica was erected on the side of 
a hill to the windward of the town, because it afforded a clear 
view, and was less dirty than other eligible sites. It also was a 
safe position in case of a possible earthquake or tidal wave, by 
which Arica had already been twice visited with disastrous effect. . 
In digging for a foundation for the transit pier, several mummies 
of the ancient Peruvians were unearthed at a depth of a foot. 
They had evidently belonged to the poorer class of people, as 
their wrappings were composed of coarse mats, instead of the 
fine cloth with which the wealthier people were usually interred. 
One was the body of a female with long hair, which had been 
turned to a reddish yellow color by the alkali in the soil. The 
whole coast of Peru is barren and desolate, except in the river 
valleys, it being seldom visited by rain, while it is nearly always 
overhung with heavy clouds and fog banks, which render astro- 
nomical work exceedingly difficult. Even when partially clear in 
the day time, it generally becomes cloudy at night. Many times 
the observer would be at his place before sunset ready to seize the 
first suitable star revealed by the darkness, only to be baffled by 
thick banks of cloud which would cover the entire sky in from 
five to ten minutes. 
In northern Peru, with a latitude of about five degrees south, 
is the town of Paita. It is an assemblage of mud-colored houses, 
