Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-21
By W. D. WALLACH.
SOUTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION OF LIT.
Highly Successful Observation ef the Solar
Eclipse.

From private letters of the most reliable char
acter, We have received information of the
complete success of Lieut. GilliS' expedition to
South America, tOObserve the late sol ar eclipse
In letter dated Payta, 18th of September.
from Lieut.. ellis bimself he COMPLAINS Of
much suffering that he vas obliged to undergo
IN crossing the desert and retu rning to Payta
The exposure to sun, hesqys, " riding over
the sand plain all day, under u nearly vertical
sun, drinking water impregnated with nifre and
lime, and sleeping ON the ground, gave me ter
uble agnes. By powerful doses of quinine
stopped them; but ali the day preceding the
eclipse was sO racked with fever and headache
that could not set up an instant until late at
night. The following extract from Lieut. Gil
lis letter to friend in this city gives some
particulars of his observation:
We were encamped on a little hill near OIL.
mOs,within the Andes. Raymond mounted the
telescope, and got the meteorological instru-
mcnts ready tor his part of the work and after
seeing that all was right, lay down, in the
earnest hope that the morning would prove
cloudy, as most of the others had been since our
arrival In the country. feared that should
still De Frustrated by sickness, and much pre-
terred clouds TO compulsory inactivity under
clear sky. Heaven decreed otherwise Nv
fever was entirely gone before daylight and
though weak from a three-days' fast, I was
quite able to act at the telescope, and observe
all the phenomena satisfactorily"
AilNhA VIM dCCpmpdnleu Lieut.. tIllllS.
and OF whose assistance the latter speaks in
warm, afectionate terms, gives a more detailed
account OF the expedition. The following ex-
tract, which we are permitted to publish from
one OF Mr.. Raymond's private letters home
VIII be read with great interest. He writes
under date Of Payta, Sept. 10:
Mr.. ellis and myself left Payta on the
2ith OF August, for the interior Our first stor-
HIng place was Pinra, the capital Of the Prov
1nce OF the same name. To reach it, we had 10
travel over what is called the Despoblado' or
unlnhablted district. Ii extends from the sea
inland, to within a few miles of the Andes ard
Is the most dreary, desolate place | over be-
held. From Payta to Pinra the distance is
about 10 miles, which we travelled in eight
hours, not including stoppage at the half way
h'uSe The sun was intensely hot during the
last half OF the journey, and it. together with
the reflection from the white sand, which is
perfectly bare In most places, rendered it yery
trying TO the eyes and face. On arriving at
flnra We we're received by SenOr Miranda the
d al OF the house Of Ruden Co.. in Payta.
Everything was done 10 make US comfortable
We stayed at Pinra three days, and left il on
the lst Of September for the COrdiIleras Our
journey during that day extended as far as the
tIcuz. small town on the borders of the An
deS- Twelve hours and half were consumed
IN making that 80 miles The road consisted
Of deep heavy sand, through which it was al
most impossible to travel. At ii wehalted for
Two hours, to let the mules rest and 10 take
breakfast, which was made up of ham, crack
erS and tea. At we arrived at the 'posads. "
or battling place, in Vicuz As the house5
were all very dirty, and were crowded with
dirty Indians, We decided TO spread the tent in
neighbOring field.
We commenced our second days Journey at
, a. u, leaving EicuZ for a hacienda among
the mountains, called Tortalitos At Payta
Dr. Rlnggold had lent Mr.. GilIis an American
saduie' as those OF the country were very mar
row aud uncomfortable. This saddle hurt the
mules back, and caused delay On this dsy,
sept - Mr. ellis caught fever and ague
brought on by the heat which was intense and
by the severity OF the ride. When We arrived
al IoTtaIltos he was completely prostrated and
reared ne would have to remain there some
days In the morning, however he was able
TO resume the tramp, and leaving our resting
place at a. IN, we traversed a very steep and
picturesque pass Of the Andes and arrived at
Naupe, II hacienda on the road Here the
mules obtained water, for the first time during
81 hours, and we got very good breakfast
At all the houses on the road we were treated
with the greatest hospitality and Kindness. and
10 the question What is there TO pay 20 the
answer was always Nothing , The only way
the people can be requlted is by giving the
dollar to one OF the children In the afternoon
We started for OlmOs, distant 40 miles We
rode I'LL ~ O'Clock that night, and then spread
l.. n.
rived at OlmOs about 10 o'clock
In OimOs VIC had the school-houses ASSIGNED
To US LOT sleeping quarters. Here in the after
noon, Mr.. Gllllss had very severe chill and a
nerce fever, but what with my tending and
last doses OF quinine il was his last chilli As
ne Wss so SICK L took his letter of T recommend
alton to the Governors house The gentleman
was out in the country digging a well, and so
waited for him. In the meantime his wife
who was seated on the floor cJmbing her hair
offered me cigaritO. and smoked one with he
berselt. The Governor soon came in looking
worse In appearance than an average Irishman
IN Brooklyn. / gave him the letter and aided
oy young man present, he succeeded in SPELL
Ing out l;s contents.
Next day we repaired TO the summit Of a
small hill TO the south Of OImOs and there
P''ched our tent This was the 9Th as we had
seen but one or two clear mornings since we
had been In the country, we were not very SAN
gulhe OF success on the day of the eclipse. But
We nad done our best, and waited for the re-
suit. 'O' NV i'
IN Monday my companion was again pros
uated by severe fever, though the chill had
oeen broken. All day he lay ON the bed in the
tent suffering much. OF course there was no
time to be lost, so | had to mount the telescope
ana get every thing ready for the next MORN
Ios. We had great many visitors who out
Ci curiosity, came up 10 see our esta Enlistment
Mr ulills had eaten nothing for three days
ana was 50 weak that he could scarcely sit up.
lie vas 50 very feeble that he hoped the morn
ing Wolid be cloudy, as be felt he could not do
justice TO the work before him But when the
morning came he was much better
he horizon WAS entirely obscured by clouds
snd we feared our journey had been in vain
by-desrees, however, that spot at which the
sun came over the mountains was cleared, and
though We did not see the beginning Of the
ecupie, yet long before its totality the sky was
ciear, and az that part Gi0Hs. Mr.. Gilliss had
very successful observation, and determined
some ne" features in the phenomena As to-
tality approached the darkness became almost
complete The birds ceased singing, the labor
ers stoPPel working, and all nature assumed a
GnaShy look As was obliged to keep record
ct The baroineterS, had not much OPPORTUNITY
I" observe closely the appearance Of the sun.
g1t glimpse, however, and saw the eoru-
ona light burst out from around the moon
and saw quite distinctly the protuberance Of
collar clouds shining brilliantly at four point.