240 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
SESS. 
were shown all over the ship, had the working of the guns, from 
the two big 9 *2 -inch to the comparatively little Maxim-Nordenfeldt, 
ably explained to us, till we seemed to know all about them. The 
torpedo chambers, both above the water-line and below, where the 
great torpedo tubes lie ready at any moment to launch these dread 
engines of warfare at England’s enemies, were specially interesting. 
The ship’s engines and boilers, capable of working up to 10,000 
horse-power, were explained to us in all their detail, from the great- 
cylinders to the tiny speed indicator, a marvel of ingenuity in itself. 
But perhaps not the least interesting sight in this part of our 
journey was the view we had of the Sierra Nevada mountains, 
stretching along the south coast, still covered with snow and lit up 
by the bright southern sun. "We cast anchor off Santa Pola the 
following day, Thursday, the 17th, in the forenoon, and here we 
experienced one of the few minor difficulties which fell to our lot. 
The big ship could not approach nearer the shore than about 1J to 
2 miles, and our landing was arranged to be carried out with the 
aid of the steam pinnace. In it we accordingly placed ourselves 
and our light baggage, including a certain leather bag containing 
two chronometers which had been entrusted to my special care. 
Under ordinary circumstances the steam pinnace as used by H.Md 
Navy is a most useful and seaworthy boat; on the present occasion 
we were all right till we approached the pier, and found ourselves- 
in the thick of the surf caused by the stiff breeze which was 
blowing off sea. Fortunately our able coxswain at once grasped 
the situation, and seeing the impossibility of lying alongside the 
pier with any safety, he turned the boat’s head to sea again and 
steamed out into comparatively smooth water. Here we awaited 
the arrival of a Spanish surf boat manned by two local fishermen, 
sent to us by the inhabitants of Santa Pola, who were waiting to 
welcome us on shore. In the end we were landed in safety, 
chronometers and all, with no worse experience than a slight 
shower-bath of salt water, which soon dried under the influence 
of the bright sunshine. As soon as possible after landing, we 
proceeded to look out for a site for our camp. Sir Norman 
Lockyer’s camp had already been fixed upon by Mr Payn, a 
member of his party, who, travelling overland, had arrived a day 
or two earlier. It was situated on a flat piece of ground by the 
