TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, JANUARY 22, 1898. 
159 
Achiowledgment of Assistance. 
The extraordinary interest and the skill displayed by the officers and men ot 
H.M.S. “ Volage ” under Captain King Hall in 189(1, and of H.M.S. “Melpomene” 
under Captain Chisholm-Batten in the present year, prove beyond all question that, 
in eclipses in which a man-of-war can he employed, the most effective and the most 
economical means of securing observations is to depend upon the naval personnel, one 
or two skilled observers being sent out to help in the final adjustments of instruments 
according to the number it is intended to employ. 
At Viziadrug, Mr. Fowler and Dr. Lockyer were enabled to report all the fixed 
instruments and huts, eight in number, erected and all but the final adjustments 
made after six days’ work, a long break being necessary in the middle of the day in 
consequence of the heat. Such an achievement as this is beyond all eclipse precedent, 
and was only rendered possible by the help of a large staff of highly trained men. Of 
the 150 engaged in the operations oidy three originally formed the expedition. 
It is, therefore, quite inappropriate that I, on the part of the expedition, should 
here tender thanks to Cajitain Batten, the officers and men of H.M.S. “ Melpomene” 
for their assistance, for as matters turned out we assisted them; but we are anxious 
to place on record the kindness we received from them both afloat and ashore, and 
since the great success of the recent observations is due almost entirely to Captain 
Chisholm-Batten and the ship’s company of the “ Melpomene,” I trust that the 
President and Council of the Boyal Society may be pleased to communicate this fact 
to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 
Among those to whom thanks are specially due are the following, representing the 
Indian Government :— 
E. Giles, Esq., Director of Public Instruction, in charge of arrangements made by 
Bombay Government. 
K. B. Bomanji, Esq., Collector of Ratnagiri. 
J. L. Jenkins, Esq., Collector of Salt. 
E. H. Aitken, Esq., Assistant Collector of Salt. 
F. R. Bader, Esq., Assistant Engineer, P.W.D. 
Gangadhar An ant Bhat, Executive Engineer, P.W.D. 
Govind Goshi, Overseer, P.W.D. 
Sadashi Govind Joshi, Clerk to the Overseer, P.W.D. 
Thanks are also due to the Officers of the Police, Telegraph, and Customs Depart¬ 
ments. and others representing the Bombay Government, for their unceasing efforts 
to help us in every way. 
Everybody was struck by the admirable and smart manner in which the subordi¬ 
nates of the Public Works Department accomplished their respective tasks. 
