TOTAL SOLAE ECLIPSE OE JULY 18, 1860. 
339 
The instruments reached Eivabellosa on the evening of the 11th ; the previous part 
of the day had been occupied in taking a general survey of the country around the 
\iUage, with the object of selecting a site whereon to erect our observatory, and I at 
length settled on one of the thrashing-floors* which are to be seen in great numbers in 
that country in the open fields. It was about 60 feet in diameter, and close to the road, 
which we found to be a great convenience, inasmuch as the water required for our use 
had to be brought from a distance. Moreover, it was level, and extremely hard and dry. 
I had hardly selected this site when I learned, with some concern, that the harvest had 
commenced, and that the proprietor intended to make use of the floor on the morrow for 
his thrashing operations, which it is the custom of the country to complete immediately 
after the reaping. However, Don Simox, land-surveyor of the Bilbao and Tudela Eail- 
way, who explained this to me, kindly undertook to negotiate for the hire of the station ; 
but the owner, when informed that his thrashing-floor was the best adapted for my pur- 
pose of any place I had seen, at once said that it was quite at my disposal, and, although 
he had to convey his grain to a distance, refused any remuneration. 
The instruments were conveyed to the thrashing-floor, and the transit theodolite 
unpacked in time to make an observation of the sun soon after 10 o’clock on the morn- 
ing of the 12th. By the evening the observatory was erected and in actual operation, 
and a photograph of the sun was obtained on the 14th. To my staff was at last added 
Mr. S. Clark, who had acted as interpreter, and who kindly volunteered his assistance 
during the eclipse. And I am greatly indebted to the gentlemen composing my staff' 
for their most efficient assistance. With a self-denial hardly to be expected under the 
circumstances, each carried out steadily his allotted task, and thus contributed to a 
result which is most gratifying, after so much preparation and trouble. 
Upwards of forty photographs were taken during the eclipse, and a little before and 
after it, — two being taken during the totality, on which are depicted the luminous pro- 
minences, with a precision as to contour and position impossible of attainment by eye- 
observations. 
Photographs of the sun were taken on the two days succeeding the eclipse, namely, 
the 19th and 20th, and the instruments were then taken down and packed. 
On the 26th the Himalaya Expedition re-embarked on board the ‘ Himalaya,’^ — myself, 
staff, and baggage being reconveyed to the vessel from Bilbao through the kindness of 
Mr. ViGNOLES, who accompanied us to England. On the 28th we landed at Portsmouth. 
I must here take occasion to express my best thanks to Captain Seccombe and the officers 
of the ‘ Himalaya ’ for their great kindness during the outward and homeward voyage. 
My thanks are also due to Senor Montesino, Chairman of the Bilbao and Tudela Eail- 
way, for assistance rendered ; also to Don Simon, and to Mr. Bennison and Mr. Preston, 
gentlemen belonging to Mr. Vignoles’s staff. 
* In tlie accompanying print a thrashing-floor, similar to the one I employed, is represented. The Plate is 
inserted partly with the object of calling attention to Mr. Paul Peetsch’s phototype process, which I have 
recently employed to furnish representations of sun-spots. (See MonthlyNoticesEoy. Ast. Soc. vol.xii. p.278.) 
