ON THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, MAY 28, 1900. 
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aiTangements for the supply of workmen and building materials for the foundations 
of the stands for the instruments, and also to arrange for the landing and transport of 
the packages, some eighty in all. 
Facilities were also given for the landing of all articles for the camp, duty free, and 
without examination, on handing in a list to the Director of Customs. Authority 
was aJso obtained for keeping the telegraph station open day and night during the 
stay of the expedition ; indeed, nothing could exceed the kindness of the authorities, 
who were obviously anxious to alford every assistance in their power. 
As there were no bricks to be obtained in the town, they were ordered by telephone 
from Alicante, and were brought over the next day. 
After Mr. Gumming had left for Alicante, the Mayor and the local authorities 
accompanied Mr. Payn to the camp, and assisted him to set out the limits and the 
positions of the various instruments, the Mayor good humouredly driving the first 
peg. A meridian line was set out roughly, and by dark all the measiu’ements vmre 
completed. A good many inhabitants came out from the town to witness the rather 
unusual sight of the chief authorities engaged in manual labour. 
The meridian line was checked the same night by an observation of the Pole Star. 
When this line was afterwards tested with the ship’s instruments by Mr. Andrews, 
the Navigating Lieutenant of the “ Theseus,” it was found to lie correct. The local 
deviation was 14° west. 
The other observers, who had left England on the 11th of May by R.M.S. 
“ Oruba,” of the Orient Line, on arriving at Gibraltar, at once went on board 
H.M.S. “ Theseus,” and left for Santa Pola, which was reached just before noon 
the following day. May 17. I was glad to find that great interest had been shown in 
the expedition on board before our arrival, and that lectures on the work to be 
undertaken had already been given by the Chaplain, the Rev. G. Brooke- 
Robinson, M.A. 
Assistants were at once forthcoming to take part in working the prismatic cameras, 
and also for manipulating several cameras which I had brought out to be used by the 
ship’s company in obtaining photographs of the corona. Observing parties in charge 
of officers of the ship, to make observations along several lines, were at the same 
time organised. 
On our arrival at Santa Pola, the following local officials came on board with 
Mr. Payn :—Srs. Francisco Bonmati Mas, Mayor of Santa Pola; Antoine 
Bonmati Mas, Vice-Mayor of Santa Pola ; Jose Bonmati Mas, Municipal Councillor ; 
Jose Salinas Perez, Municipal Councillor ; Eladio Ponce de Leon, Secretary to 
the Mayor; Michel Sempere, Justice of the Peace ; Jose Hernandez, Cajitain of 
the Port; Geronimo Agnati, Administrator of Customs; Eduard Fernandez, 
1 st Lieutenant of Coast Guards ; Tomas Bueno, Medical Officer. 
Work on the piers for the instruments was commenced on the day of arrival. The 
erection of the instruments, huts, and tents was commenced on the following morning, 
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