34 TRAVELS A3I0NGST THE GREAT ANDES, chap. ir. 



felt that observations made by them would not command confi- 

 dence ; but as the transport of mercurial barometers is a ticklish 

 matter^ and they seldom survive prolonged use, I carried boiling- 

 point thermometers and aneroids as a reserve in case of accident, 

 and took every opportunity to compare the indications of the 

 three kinds of instruments, to instruct myself how far they 

 agreed wlien used in the field. 



All the instruments arrived at Guaranda in safety.^ From 

 London to Bodegas they had been in my own charge, and I 

 then handed the two Fortius over to Jean-Antoine, who, to 

 ensure the safety of these delicate instruments, walked the 

 greater part of the way from Bodegas to Guaranda. From the 

 unceasing attention that they required, the barometers were 

 nicknamed '^the babies," and many children would be fortunate 

 indeed if they were tended with the loving care which he 

 bestowed upon those mercurial infants. 



The two Fortin barometers were verified before departure at 

 Kew Observatory,^ and were hung alongside each other at 

 Guaranda. The mean of the readings of these two barometers, 

 I'educed to 32° Faht., was the standard to which all the other 

 observations were referred. 



The boiling-point thermometers were in two series (150° — 

 185°, and 180° — 215°), in order to have each degree a good 

 length ; and a number of experimental comparisons were made 

 with them, upon which a few general observations are offered 

 in vVppendix D. 



Seven aneroids were taken to the interior of Ecuador.^ All 

 of these were made for the journey, and they were frequently 



1 Except one aneroid, which was either lost or stolen. During our halt at 

 S. Jose de Chimbo, an Ecuadorian who heard that I carried aneroids was very 

 urgent to buy one. I shewed him mine, and on arrival at Guaranda found that 

 one of them had disappeared. A reward was offered for its recovery, without result. 



2 A facsimile of the Certificate of Verification of No. 558 is given in Appendix C. 



3 And an eighth was left with Mr. Chambers at Guayaquil, as a reserve in 

 case of accident to the mercurial barometer. 



