New-York tribune., 1875-01-30
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.
THE .Mrp1cAN PARTY IN JAPAN.

IMPERfECr OBSEhNAilON ONiNu AZ ~.SON-'S
OBSERVATIONS AT OTHER STATIONS
grRos AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE rRiBufh.i
NAaAsAKI Dec. 10.--The great astronomical
event Of the century has passed The occasion which
has called out greater than purely scientific
event In the worlds history and for which such eaoo
rate preparations been made has gone by AND ie
itsimpress astronomy. What remains is TO gather
together the facts connected with the different eAPo
dions and bring them to the attention OF the
publIc i leave 20 the scientific experts In tnese
parties the duty Of reporting TO the Com~isAon n'
Washington the exact phenomena when tney "i'nesou,
and the differences which they deduced rom tne" A
all Will look forward with impatient interest w 'ne
results OF the elaborate discussions to which the oose
yat,ons OF the various parties will DO subjected Dy He
most learned astronomers OF land The American
artv destined for Japan at the time 1t landed at foKo
under instructions from the Commission at wash
ington was constituted as follows;
prof George Davidson, United States Coast Survey
eSo O. II. TittmSn. United States Coast Survey. and
nephew Of Prof j. l. HgIrd. First Assistant AsIIono-
W. g. Eiwards, United States Coast Survey, OF San
Francisco. Second Assistant Astronomer.
5. K Seibert OF the Treasury Department Washlng-
Messrs Williams aud Lodge OF Boston, recent gradu-
OF the Institute OF Technology, AsslsIaht KIN"
Mr Waoyeno Of Nagasaki, a skillful Japanese pho
snt sSSs''"'' "A' ''''' 1O'''''' ''''''N - ~
The instructions from Washington indicated Nagasah
as the desirable point at which to halt compar
isOn the meteorological records OF Yokohama ana Ma
gasaki is said TO shown advantage IN taVor VI
the latter place in for clear weather. 1t was
left however 10 the discretion Of Prof Davidson to Sc
lect some other point, If he should find grounds Ior
change Although Trustworthy mete0rologlcal oDser
vaons could obtained in reference to other points IL
would not have difficult to decide that some point
10 the interior OF the largest island would have had
sun more favorable chances Tue proximity
OF the warm sea currents both TO Yokohama
aud Nagasak is known render the atmosphere much
more than in the interior Some one OF the mgh
peaks north Of KiOto, and sheltered from the damp
winds OF Pacific and Of the Japanese sea Wouu cer
tainly have offered chances But there we're other
considerations beside those respecting the weather The
luggage OF the party amounted 10 10 tons and seVerAi
OF the pieces we're OF great bulk and weight. This Ia
country without railroads even decent roads, and
whose method Of inland transportation Is on the
backs OF horses buOck, or the shoulders OF men, al
once put OF tho question considerable departure
from the waterways of the empire. Beside this' the
use OF tile telegraph determining the longitude OF the
station occupied, which is PECULIARLY feature OF
American astronomy, made IL necessary to Keep near
the lines already built Hagasaki, fortunately Is the
terminus of the from Vladiwostock which, IN turn
is connected by telegraph with ST. Petersburg ana tnus
with Greenwich. II also Is the terminus OF eaDe from
Shanghai which. tho time OF the landing or the expe
dtion was expected TO be connected with PeKing
At Nagasaki Prof Davidson would be In connection
with Prof Hall at Vladivostock, and be expected TO
be in connection with Prof. Watson at PeKing These
circumstances together with the lateness Of the time at
which arrived ia Japan, led him to adopt the oecs
ion OF the Commission and 20 10 NagasaRi
COURTESY OF JAPANESE GOVERNMENT
II Ia not inappropriate to mention the graceful
courtesies which extended to Prof Davldsons
party also the other parties while In this country
When informed that the great Western powers were
about TO send expeditions observing the transit Of
uouI1O in
the Government intrusted TO the Educational Depart
duty Of seeing that every courtesy was shown
to them and that any assistance which they required
should rendered Tne Department at once put at the
disposal of the parties who were to remain In japan
skilled officers who might assist them In all
matters connected with the business OF arranging their
stations and In their Intercourse with the local
authorities or the inhabitants Mr. MagOnie for this
purpose accompanied Prof Davidson's party to
Nagasaki, and will with them until their busi-
ness entirely completed. The Governor OF Nagasaki
Kenui Mivagawa, was also instructed from Iedo to
grant all assistance in his power, and has been ex-
tremely attentive The Telegraph Bureau was also in
structed TO furnish every facility, and subsequently
were directed at the expense OF the Government, TO
build both for the French aud American parties tee-
graph line up TO their stations This, however was not
required In the case OF the American party. In addition
10 this, through the courteous Offices OF the United
States Minister, the Hon. j. A. Bingham, free pass
port was issued by the Government for the party TO
travel upon this business in any part Of the Empire
Prof Davidson return for these courteses offered to
receive into his expedition any officers of the Govern
ment who having knowledge Of the subject
desired to study the methods OF observation 10
be employed. Capt. Yanage OF the Japanese I'm
perial Navy, and two heutenants, OtOmO and Isono,
availed themselves OF this offer, and have been
nected with the party volunteer aids. Capt Yanage
has charge OF the hydrographie bureau Of the Navy
Department, and is man Of solid atainments and high
character. Under his administration the bureau has
made g very creditabe commencement in the prepara-
tiOn OF Japanese sailing charts; and although when
compared with the beautiful charts published by the
American Coast Survey, HydrographIc Bureau,
they show defects they bear the stamp OF honest
and very promising effort. Prof Davidson presented to
Capt YanaGe for his bureau selected set Of the Coast
Survey charts and received from him set Of his pub
hshed japanese charts in return.
Prot. Davidson arrived at Nagasah Oct. @ and i'm
medatey set TO work to select suitable location for
his Instruments This town is surrounded with high
and very steep bills. The country in its appear
the effects Of past volcanic action The rains how
Of subsequent years have smoothed down the
rough outline OF the bills. aud nearly every
round sOf 10 i soape aud covered the top with
vegetation. Beside this, the industrious farmers have
cultivated every little valley which lies between and
have their terraces OF rice, wheat, barley, miet,
turnps and tobacco far up the steep sides. Here
and there. in sheltered spot you Will see grove
OF wel-kept trees, where ten you will fnd a
temple with its surrounding Oubuildngs, for the resi-
dence of the priests WHO perhaps with their predeces
sors have quiet precincts for centuries
bills behiud the town in amphitheater form,
and on the higher grounds, the vicinity Of temples,
cius.er the thousand the graves OF generations
Each marked by It's gray stone, inscribed with the
strange characters OF China and Japan. AS the dead
are buried in sitting posture they take but little
ana The stones stand thicker.