The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

claimed for all the observations taken at
all tae stations. The purpose Of the Har-
ward expedition has been the visual and
few random observations, but next
to nothing was known. from the point OF
view of strict scientific accuracy, about
the. regular conditions of weather ana
climate Since the Harvard work has be-
gun however, the Peruvian Government.
inspired perhaps by the enterprise of its
American visitors has started an excel
lent observatory OF its own at the capital,
Lima ATequipa also. as has been said,
Will still retain the main Harvard station
attached to the astronomical observatory
proper. so that Peru will be quite as well
of in this respect, as most of the South
American countries.
Accordingly meteorograph, containing
the various self-recording meteorological
instruments combined in a compact and
convenient form, was specially construct
ed to run three months with continuous
records This was left on the summit in
strongly built little house, whose sides
weTs covered with Stats, since weather in
struments must be exposed to the weather,
so as to be open to all outside indications.
This little station was visited from Are
quipa as often as possible. At times the
snow was so heavy that for several months
the instruments had to be left to their
fate. Occasionally they broke down long
before the limit OF time was reached. The
meteOrograph had been successfully test
ed in normal conditions. but the whrlingi
winds as often as not sweeping straight
up the slope of the mountain and throwing
the thermometer into complete confusion.
and the drifting snow which every now
: and then almost overwhelmed the station,
were things with which it could not al
WAYS contend. Nevertheless. if one recalls
the enormous difficulties. the results OBJ
tanned were remarkably comprehensive.
and taking them year by year, if not day
| by day. complete.
Ascent of Volcanic Mountain.
There has been no lack of picturesque
interest to accompany the various ascents
of FL Misti. as may be readily imagined.
Here. for example. is a paragraph from
Prof. S l. Bailey's account of the estab-
Hshment CO the station in his introduction
to the volume, in the Annals of the
Harvard Observatory, which treats of
Peruvian Meterology," Ell Misu is
volcanic mountain, and the summit, 1t APP
pears, was marked with an iron cross
over a century ago by the Spanish priests
from Arequipa to guard against the erup-
tion of the great crater which still, as
then, sends out its sulphurous vapors into
the air Prof Bailey is writing of the
ascent of September 2S 1898. as the party
under his charge was nearing the summit:
THE Indians were not enthusiasts;
two of them. who went ahead to recon-
noitre thought the place too difficult for
mules I thought differently, and on
careful eXamnat U. found a route where.
by descending fifty or seyenty-hve feet,
we avoided the cliff and gained the bot
tom of the ravine. The way then led
across bad slope of coarse pebbles.
where it was impossible to make good
trail, but. this once crossed, the remain
der of the route was strangely enough.
the easiest of the whole ascent. At 1:00
p. m. we got our first view of the ObseTv-
atory, and by small mirrors gave and re-
ceived flashes in return. About ten min
utss later we. reached the cross. situated
few feet southwest of the highest point
of the mountain.
about fifteen minutes before reaching
the summit, the Indians caught a glimpse
of the cross. and this sight, assuring them
that success was certain. and their hard
labors nearly over, kindled in them more
enthusiasm than they displayed at any
other time. On our arrival at the sum
nit. each of the Indians in turn embraced
first me and then Mr.. Waterbury. Each
then removed his hat and knelt at the
foot of the cross, kissing frst the base
and the arms. Then they drank our
health and afterward dug a little hole just
at the apex of the mountain ard placed
therein cocoa poured wine upon il, and
covered it with earth. After selecting the
site for the proposed shelters, and making
a sketch and a few photographs, we sent
the mules and apparatus back by two Of
the men"
A Journey of Difficulty.