144 
MR. J. N. LOCKYER AND DR. SCHUSTER ON 
which it was covered. A comfortable house had been built of bamboo sticks and palm 
leaves for the English observers ; a similar house was built for Mr. J. Janssen, who 
had arrived at the observatory about a week before the English expedition. 
His Grace the ex-Regent of Siam arrived at the observatory on the following day, 
and stopped until after the eclipse. He took a great interest in the preparations, and 
his presence was a guarantee that no trouble should be spared to render the stay of 
the King’s guests as pleasant as possible. The minor arrangements, which were con- 
siderable, had been entrusted by the King to the Governor of Pitchaburee, to whose 
anxious care to carry out all their wishes the expedition is greatly indebted. 
It must be borne in mind that everything had to be brought through considerable 
distance either by water or over bad roads, and the continued wants at short notice of 
wooden planks, bricks, &c., often severely taxed the energies of the Siamese officials. 
Even the drinking water had to be brought from a spot many miles distant. 
All through Wednesday the wind did not abate, and arrangements were made to 
land the instruments during the night if possible. At three o’clock in the morning 
Mr. Lott went on board, and succeeded after some difficulty, and not without risk, in 
getting the instruments into the small boats. The boats had to make several 
journeys, but all went well, and on Thursday, the 1st of April, at noon, all the 
instruments were at the observatory. The eclipse was to take place on the following 
Tuesday. This late arrival was due to several unforeseen events. Our delay between 
Galle and Singapore, and slow passage to Bangkok, and a double considerable delay 
on both sides of the Meinam bar, all combined to produce a total delay of three or 
four days. Until the arrival of part of the crew of the ‘ Lapwing,’ on the evening of 
the 3rd of .April, we were without the help of trained workmen. Though the instru- 
ments were fairly in order during the eclipse, there is no doubt that the short time of 
the preparations has considerably damaged the results. 
Everything belonging to the photographic department was put under the super- 
vision of Mr. Beasley. Captain Lofttjs had prepared several dark rooms, two of 
which were on wheels and could be shifted to any spot where they were wanted. 
The walls of the rooms were made of several layers of palm leaves, but these were not 
found a sufficient protection against sunlight. As the expedition had brought tents, 
they were put up inside the dark rooms prepared by the Siamese. This arrangement 
proved to be of very great advantage. While the photographer could work in com- 
plete darkness inside his tent, the chemicals were placed within easy reach on shelves 
in the outer room, to which only very little light had access. The assistants carrying 
the plates to and from the instruments could enter the room and communicate with 
the photographer without allowing any light to enter the tent. 
The instruments had suffered some damage on the journey which could not be 
repaired without proper tools. The workmen from the ‘Lapwing’ were, therefore, 
somewhat impatiently expected. 
On the evening of the 1st of April a steamer was announced to be in sight, but, to 
