187S.] Ohservatiovs in tlie Gulf of Ciitcli. 37 



himself with two portable chronometers which were rated at Rajkote 

 and carried about on the tours of inspection, for comparison with the 

 clocks. 



Difficulties of the Operations.— T\\q operations were carried on under 

 many and great difficulties, ani Capt. Baird and his assistants incuiTcd 

 considerable risk when crossing the Gulf in native sailing vessels, as they 

 frequently had to, whenever their presence was required at either of the 

 stations. Huts had to be built and iron water-tanks provided at each sta- 

 tion for the native subordinates who were placed in charge of the 

 instruments, and for the men of the guard furnished by the Durbar of the 

 Native State in which the station is situated. Arrangements also had to be 

 made to supply these men with food and drinking water, which at Hanstal 

 was no easy matter, Jor the nearest point whence these necessaries of life 

 were procurable was about 25 miles off. At each station a line of post 

 runners had to be established to the nearest points on the main line of 

 postal communication, as it was essentially necessary that Capt. Baird 

 should receive daily reports from the men in charge of the observatories. 



The inspection of the observations necessitated a great deal of hard 

 marching and entailed much exposure and privation. Even so early as in 

 the month of May, before the setting in of the monsoon, the Runn of 

 Cutch was covered with water, from six inches to a foot in depth, which 

 had to be waded through for many miles distance to reach the station at 

 Hanstal. At such seasons travellers usually cross the Runn by riding on 

 the camels of the country ; these animals are bred in large numbers along 

 the borders of the Gulf, and are accustomed from their birth to wajider 

 about the swamps, browsing on the mangrove bushes, and thus they learn 

 to walk with ease and keep their feet on ground which would be impossi- 

 ble to most other camels. Of his journey with Mr. Rendell, to Hanstal in 

 the month of May, Capt. Baird writes, " Our only land-marks in the whole 

 " of the last 14 miles were two small mounds of earth thrown up — when 

 " there were postal chowkies there — at 4 or 5 miles apart, and the observa- 

 " tory itself ; we both felt a curious sensation as if we were being carried out 

 " to sea, which was occasioned by seeing small branches of scrub floating 

 *' on the surface of the water and being driven by the wind inland ; and 

 " once, with the exception of one of the mounds above mentioned in tlic 

 " distance, there were no fixed objects visible to destroy this optical illu- 

 " sion." Later on, when the monsoon set in, the difficulties of locomotion 

 were greatly increased ; direct communication with Nawanar, by crossing 

 the Gulf in a sailing boat, became impossible, as none but native vessels 

 were available for the purpose, and tliey could not venture across in the 

 strong gales then prevailing ; and in order to reach that station a very long 

 circuit had to be made round the head of the Gulf, crossing the Runn at 



