GREAT TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 55 



was also enabled to get bearings to fresh peaks and to affix the 

 names to some already observed. He returned to Moulmein on tlie 

 13th April 1881, having been employed on field duty nearly 

 eighteen months, and having won good opinions in hk dealings 

 with the Siamese officials and natives. 



The extension of the Eastern Frontier Series or chain of principal 

 triangulation down into lower Tenasserim, with a view to the 

 measurement of a base-line at the southern extremity of British 

 Indian territory, was taken in hand by Mr. H. Beverley in 

 November 1879. But the ill-health from which, in spite of a very 

 strong constitution, he had suffered for some year?, proved fatal 

 and he died on the 22nd June. He had served 25 years in the 

 Department, and notwithstanding the malarious and difficult tracts 

 in which he had often worked his labours were assiduous and 

 successful. 



The selection of a suitable site for the measurement of a base- 

 line was a difficult matter, but eventually a gcod spot was discovered 

 in the Mergui township, Mergui island, beyond the range of the 

 numerous creeks which penetrate inland from the sea. Lastly, but not 

 leastly, supplies for the numerous surveyors and their followers were 

 here easily procurable. While Mr. Potter, Assistant Surveyor, was 

 constructing the principal stations around the base-line, and clearing 

 the rays between them, Captain Hill was completing the remaining 

 triangles between Tavoy and the base-line and connecting his 

 heights with the sea-level for verification. Extraorclinaiw difficulties 

 were experienced from the haze, which was so dense that the 

 shipping people and fishing population were unable to carry on 

 their usual calling. The meteorological observations throw very 

 little light on the cause of this peculiar haze. It generally 

 commences about the middle of January, with north-east or easterly 

 winds, and rain seems to have no effect upon it ; with south-west or 

 western winds it clears. The natives add that exceptionally hazy 

 seasons occur at intervals of about five or six years. 



The part of Mergui chosen for the base-line appears to have been 

 more thickly inhabited in former times than at present. Many 

 old pagodas, some in ruins, are scattered about. A number 

 of Mussulmans, chiefly descendants of men from India and the 

 Straits who have intermarried with Burmans, have taken up their 

 residence in the place ; they are increasing steadily, and supplanting 

 the original Burmans. The Mergui archipelago, consisting of 



