482 E. D. Preston — Magnetic and Gravity 



also to tender thanks to Captain A. R. Yates, commanding, 

 and to Lieut. Commander Han ford, executive officer of the 

 " Pensacola." The landing and shipping of the instruments was 

 always a matter requiring care, and was often done under diffi- 

 culty, yet in the numerous transfers nothing was ever broken 

 or lost. 



An account of the trip would he incomplete without a due 

 acknowledgment of the services rendered by the government 

 officials at the different stopping places. 



At Loanda the governor of the province of Angola gave us 

 free passes for all- railroad travel from the coast to Cabiri, where 

 the party went to observe the eclipse on December 22. At the 

 Cape of Good Hope every facility was given. Her Majesty's 

 Astronomer, Dr. Grill, kindly furnished myself and aid with 

 quarters at the observatory, and made a special time de- 

 termination every night for pendulum work. The railroad 

 authorities gave passes for a trip to the diamond fields at Kim- 

 berly, 600 miles in the interior. As a week was necessary for 

 this, the kind offer could only be accepted by those unoccupied 

 with scientific work. At St. Helena Gov. Antrobus offered 

 the use of the public park for the magnetic observations, and 

 the library room of the police court for the gravity work. 

 The unique character of the island government at Ascension 

 placed us under more than ordinary obligations. As there are 

 no civilians at this place we were necessarily the guests of Her 

 Majesty's Government. Capt. R. H. Napier, R. N., placed at 

 our disposition an entire building in Bunghole Square for the 

 observations at the garrison. The pier was built for the transit, 

 tents were erected for magnetic and astronomical work, and 

 guard duty performed by the marines. A ration per day from 

 the island stores was served to each member of the party dur- 

 ing the stay. At Barbados and Bermuda we were again on 

 English soil and received the usual generous welcome. At the 

 former place Governor Sendall came to Hastings and made a 

 personal examination of the instruments and methods of ob- 

 serving. At Bermuda General Newdegate kindly gave us the 

 use of the government launch for the transportation of the in- 

 struments from Quarantine Island to St. Georges, besides show- 

 ing other attentions of an unofficial character. 



The definite results, from the observations on this voyage, 

 may be expected before the next meeting of the Association. 

 Whether they show the Atlantic islands to be light or heavy as 

 compared with the continental masses, they will at least add 

 considerable new material for the determination of the earth's 

 figure. 



The following table contains a list of the stations with their 

 approximate positions, date of occupation, kind of determina- 

 tions and initials of observers. 



