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SIR NORMAN LOCKYER AND OTHERS ON THE 
I took upon myself, when leaving Viziadrug, to .write an unofficial letter to 
Mr. Bomanji, thanking him, in the name of the expedition, for his gTeat personal 
kindnesses to us as well as for the valuable assistance we had received from him and 
the other local representatives of the Government. 
L. Lee, Esq., Collector of Customs for Ceylon, and other Customs officials at 
Colombo, rendered valuable assistance to the expedition by granting special facilities 
and providing means for transhipping the instruments. 
The Orient Steam Navigation Conijiany very kindly conveyed the instruments 
free of charge to and from Colombo. 
To W. H. Sinclair, Esq., a former Collector of the district (now retired), I was 
Indeiited for the supply of much valuable local information before leaving England. 
My own personal thanks are due to Mr. Fowler and Dr. Lockyer, who assisted 
me in the preliminary work of organisation, and who, while at Viziadrug, worked 
hard 1joth day and night to further the objects of the expedition ; and also to 
Mr. Bourne, Midshipman, attached to me as Aide-de-Camp, who was indefatigable in 
helping me to carry out tlie various details of the local organisation. 
Part II.— Observations made by the Officers and Men of H.M.S. 
“ Melpomene.” 
Bij Captain Chisholm-Batten," A. V. 
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Admiralty Inst ructions. 
H.M.S. “ Melpomene ” was ordered to receive on board Sir Norman Lockyer and 
party at Colombo, convey them to Viziadrug, and bring them back to Colombo 
after the eclipse. During her stay at Viziadrug such assistance as lay in her power 
was to be rendered to the party. It was to be quite understood that it was very 
desirable that the officers and men should interest themselves in the work, and he 
encouraged to come forward as assistant observers, if required, by Sir Norman 
Lockyer. 
By later orders, H.M.S. “ Melpomene ” was ordered to convey Sir Norman 
Lockyer from Viziadrug to Goa, instead of returning direct to Colombo. 
Diary of the Expedition. 
On the arrival of the “ Lusitania,” the Torpedo Instructor was sent on hoard to 
make himself, as much as might be, familiar with the eighty cases of eclipse gear, in 
order that he might attend to them throughout. 
On the 4th January the party and the gear were transferred from the mail steamer 
and H.M.S. “Melpomene” left Colombo. 
