Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-25
The Swatara and the transit ExpedI-
ton.
From the South African News

The United States screw steam corvette Swa-
tara arrived in Table Bsy yesterday morning,
having left New York on the 9th Of June last,
with tie American scientific expedition In con-
nection with the transit OF Venus on bosrd. She
called At Bahia en- route, and hiss had through
out most favorable passage. In the course OF
the af ternCOn the Swatara taken into the
dock, in order that geme of her machinery may
be overbauled, and with q view TO the elastic
ton OF the stores aud apparatus destined for
the various points OF observation. She 10 obs of
the handsomest sioops Of war in the American
navy, and quite q new vessel, in everv way
lifted for the duties assigned TO her, and amply
stored with two years provisions, and all the
neces esssry and most improved instruments.
Extra cabins for the scientists have been built
in the steerage, and the magazines have been
turner into repositories for food. The battery
has been taken out, snd the only armament ou
board consists of two twelve pound boat how
itzeTs, mounted on the poop deck. The ward
room, with the mess table, looks like q dining
room in g country hotel, the scientists ami
wsrd-oficers messing together. The forward
cabin is occupied by the heads of parties, who
oine and live with the captain, (Chandler,) ) who
has a comfortable after cabin Just over the pro
peiler. We may here mention that Captsin
Chandler, who is at the head of the expedition
out of the navy as among his own fraternity.
Lieut. Commander wilkins, the navigator is a
volunteer officer, who has had great experience
in the south seas, and also in the north among
the arctic ice. Lieuts. Hunker, Little and Pills
bury are slso highly spoken OF. and IL is be-
iieved they will do credit TO the expedition
The stations to be visited by the Swatara are
fOlowJ:
Hobart Town, Van Dieman's Land.-Chief
astronomer, Prof. W. Hardness, u. s. Navy;
assistant, l.. Wade; chief photographer, w j.
Moran; assistants, w. II. Churchill and W. b.
Devereaux.
Kerguien Isisnd.-Chief astronomer, Com
mander Ryan, U. 8. Navy; chief photographer,
ID. K: Holmes; assistants, G. W. Dryer and j.
Stanley.
New Zeslsnd.-Chief astronomer, Prof Pc
ters. OF Hamilton college; assistant, Lieut. T.
w. Bass, U. s. A; chief photographer, G. l..
Philhpi; assistants, j. Russell, +. b. PiersoR
and l.. II. Eyre.
Crozette Islsnd.-Chief astronomer, Captain
Raymond, L. s. Engineers; assistant, Lieut \.
+. Tillra an, L. s. A; chief photographer, W.
X. Py we'll; assistants, j. G. Campbell and A.
Foster.
Smith, United States Coast Survey; assistant,
A. ii. Scott, United States Coast Survey; chief
photographer, l.. Seebahn: assistants, q. Buch-
Ter and W. II. Rsu.
The Swatsrs will probably remain here for a
fortnight or three weeks, and take in the necss-
ssry supplies, and then proceed TO the Crozettes,
where Capt Raymond, OF the United States
Army, an exceedingly talented officer, will be
landed with his party. The courses will then
be shaped for Kerguelen, New Zealand, and
Van Diemsn's Land. In landing the parties
the Swatsra will sail eastward directly around
the world, as she could not make headway
against the westerly gales Of those ATTITUDES so
that she will go nearly twice around the world
before completing her mission, steaming eventu-
ally TO northwsrd of Australia, entering the In
dian ocean, and passing up through the Red
sea and SueZ canal into the Mediterranean. Prob
ably she will then relieve one of the yesse's of
the European station. and take her bstteIg
We understand that Capt. Chandler has offered
should the Encounter not be ready in time, TO
take the English expedition from here.