Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 21

Notes to Accompany a Traverse Survey of the White Nile, from Khartum to Rigaf, 1874 Author(s): C. M.

Watson and Richard Strachan Source: Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 46 (1876), pp. 412-427 Published by: Blackwell Publishing on behalf of The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1798682 Accessed: 20/10/2010 19:04
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=black. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and Blackwell Publishing are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London.

http://www.jstor.org

412

Lieut. NVATSON'S lNtotes on a Traverse Survey

dull samenessof straggling roots, mud, and dead green masses of foliage. The populationconsistsonly of scattered fishilagvillages,with theirlittle patchesof land growingmaize,bananas, plaintains,coco-nuts, and peppers; and we should not estimate them at morethan1000 soulsin the whole distanceof 100 miles. The channelwouldbe availablefor arlysteamersof about 5 feet draughtof water. From Bonny to New Calabar the channel is constantly changing, alld the banlvs abound with quiclQsands; but for vessels of larger size, and not over 10 feet draught,there is a good passageoutside BreakerIsland. The RiverNew Calabar, fromthe shippingto the oil-malkets, affordsa fine safe channel for vessels of fully 10 feet draught. After passing ElvaSa,mrhich is some 45 to 50 miles from the mouth of the river, the countryimprovesvery much, the mangrove ceases,and moderatelyhigh land, well wooded,speaks of great capabilityfor any tropic growth. At AmaSa, say about 25 miles distant fromEwafEa, we found the countryvery good, and about 15 to 20 feet above highwatermark. It is evident,froln the profuse growthof everything, that the soil must be virgin in its richness. The natives seenl poor and indolent, and are inclined to be troublesome. We thinlcthe povertyof appearancearises fromthe incessant quarrelling betsveen tribe and tribe, as they are constantly plunderingand capturingeach other,the captivesbeing always sold to slavery. ln physiquewe think they are inferiorto the men at the mouthsof the rivers.

XVII. Notes to clecompany a Traverse S?6rvey of the WAtte Ntle,frosew Khc6rtql,rew to Rigaf. By Lieut. C. M.WATSON, R.E. to Gondokoro, is now so well knownand has been so frequently and fully described,that it will be sufficient to make a very few remarks on the route whichwas followedon the occasion that the traverse survey of the river, which accompaniesthis paper,lvasmade. Having receivedinstructionsto join GolonelGordon,C.B., OT1 the Upper Nile, I left Suez, in company with Lieutenant Chippendall,R.E., onthe 31stAugust, 1874,and xvereaclled Sllakim on the 5th September. Leaving Suakimon the 11th of the same month,we arrived at Berberupon the Wile on the 24th. The route ++efollo^ed

THE journey from Cairo to Shartum, and up the White Nile

8miltewfOhf tUsmdc

of the

Cevered w^vood

*t 0

WH I T EroN I
1M: 1
f 8

Iro7onghe5wl!terXZ

by Iieut! Watsou & ChippendAll. R.E.


20 3nAlidL 3111tD loz I trour coverd

wS
...

re

Geo4r7tictil

Miles

E765't:fi?E7 Water charI


.

2-eX

7trdsercha7ui 1+ rnile .". ia o Wad to a great dvtsta7z.ce-.3,, / llistzat desert vtsiblS-tt


Deserr p pro

. 4^ t1-a

? n >#>ffiNa,
oStot; p50 \Pt^J)
p

' hkoZ

ELDDot-*bl\

zreesurfir waf$g large t_


W

chu7777

EI Mana

Positions ietermirLed astronolnicaZly.


Fashflda Sobat Shambeh Ca7LEsseS Bohr Gordo7uro RigaS :D1: La2;. 9? 5h' 16 " 9?23' fjO" 7? 5' 59" 6?4d' 23" 6?1S' 41" 4?54' 28/' 4? 44' 32 " E.SLo 32?19 7" 31? 4z)' 36" 30 50 32 31? 11' 14 " 31?3fF'46t
3Ze43tXe

Wavr chazuX

Fery fe

No tre

31?3y24

Watc

Bar7McslJ

13

Note.

17wpoits a2:which S above observatio7as were rr are showrb tMs Q

,,,.

j.

-1

_:XA-

G^bal,vlin
lErsh wffi
. X, C ,_ . -S ay *;Y,o ,t

tees

of

CW7tE

u2, k7z0ts

pezs

77our

Wa
lfo

c7lanneD 6
b

Water

12

Wamer cta

| _

BofX be

S
_
11 -

N;-

X
-,=
Oct.2l eL
, ,m,

o
' O

;@

))

Both ba

As) f 'X

WanBr channK

ka, +S 40oya,>ZEShb Et G71rabl3

No s'eyns o

ts

;i// @1 Xi I
I

II 1 1 ll

If.t7ch/l7400yW Oct.22 n:W |p;2Banks <,lff -c*

rnosf

1g1 11 :8a/ / 1 11

ta)chan7i

o
BtiAr Cl G_ \

tilf
<% pbl

Fashoda? vion :ct sdtZe77 >t i; onS, Sugar,Jfe Sc. Seat of Goverrur cona qe76 Papn3000e,!s 160 txns of Cemmseat to rt _ gaJrzson of 800 1g...< iVo trees h ; ,, -Waterchan72& 250 1-3Ss:nots ShiZZo ,.^> +, < Grass on both baScs . mX
'u;rvs.'!{ .:
.

' "

ots

ir Grassba7Gc

9?//
9)

W
o1 B

z50yX
5

b'sS
No a Marsh hiSher,d #Aban _avfew birdsj WX dla7u7-g 30YdX Water cha72ruT 6ydw
f

g5S7tiZZook
. Vitlayes

j [
<9b

A9*'rKater

@gct.29

1SOYaW The m of * rwe;rsSoba;t; aK N vvy 77urrked, 2he XziS ]7ei719 av bZsh

greer4

7 v

=7

t t #

oswt

@,
to: -?v?V6t.- wD,tKq

>

1"0t4Sth

X, e

'S

-,

X
:

Wcz;Sbask:a i7at; p7mir/, ,a, s2t7a fee ,gbrreSt orvono - .. .<.pmcess pr- aeavn : st120ya4 7SC fT o ., ,itsj,%Me;20,5td X C

Jk

r *+c

f@ KA?

West b

7fiw & mults


Sw0,19 i.'T@^..

bamJcj77ggh & woodxdf


5g71/ 22 r

?ffi? bai Woode<tS 5 to 15 fFeibavewri' ks of dd'*-"

,,^axiVSe Paluges

& olDng bodhS baSes _ rru two abeveXw

T<
:

onZy ffi feotor

'

'
CuZ6v gd

''
'

<12
CtS atR7w.2.e

}usrr>^9,grourM Ka*uwg350yds Wa prutSVe3eegs


. ! . ' pirOV.

6(90ydw

.aw t

cEwa>t7tG 350YdS

13
a D>

B 5 gI.,v.14

wo@^gd

-} DOEORC)

>

Wd

AP 7tYeF

aeRY

.
1 I

30

31
Publizhedi for
tie

llon>Xli

Emtl qf GrJench
Geograp77 Soty

32

Jout7nalof SRoFal

by J: Mwbrv, AZhemfLrZerSteet, LorLdotL1876.

of the WhitcNile from K11artum to Riyaf.

413

wasnotthatwhichis usually takenby tlle merchants caravalls, andled over steeperandmoreruggedmountain-passes. 'l'his route has the advantage of being Bell suppliedwith water, whichis foundon each day'smarch, andis generally of gOod quality. The distancefromSuakimto Berberby this roadis about270 miles. For the greater partof the wav,it leads overranges of hills of solcanic origin,andacross level tractswhich have evidently been the cratersof long-e:xtinct volcanoes. These are of an irregularly cilcular form, andsomeare12 or 15 milesacross, and surrounded with steep, black cliSs. The surfaceis for the mostpartcovered with sufScient soil to allowof the growth of a considerable amotlntof vegetation,and wateris generally foundby digging. Every now and then lleapsof lava an(-l scorine are passed,andtrapdylies stand high abovethe surrounding level. Thehighest passnhich xYe crossed lvasrather more than300G feet abo-ethe sea. Partsof this collntryale very beautifu], and wouldappear to possessgreat capabilities of improvement, if arrangements were made for preserving the waterwhichfalls during the rainyseason. After a felvdays'delayat :13erber, we proceeded by steamer up the Nile to Khartum. The riverwas nearlyat its greatest height, and navigationwas consequently easy even at the cataracts which lie between Shendy andKhartum.At this point the Nile passes through a rangeof hills whichcontract its bed, and so increasethe rapidityof the current. Whenthe Wile is lo+s, it is not possible to passthese rapidsexceptin boatsof verylight draught, as therearemanydangerous sunken rocks. The distancefrom Berber to Khartum occupiedsix daysS butit canbe donein fromthreeto fourwithout difficulty. We remained a fewdays at Shartum, and then proceeded by steamer up the WhiteNile to Gondokoro, and reached it in thirty-four days. It wason thisjourney thattlle acconlpanying sketchof the riverwasmade. It may be interesting to explainthe mannerin whichthe traverse waslaid down. A 4-inchprismatic compass was placedin that part of the steamer vhereit wasfoundto be least aSected by the iron of the vessel,and a reading was taken at each alteration of the course of the steamer. Theactualtimeon eachcourse lvasalso noted. As the variation of this compass, of course, differed considerably as the directionof the headof the vessel altered,observations weretaken as opportuniti oSeredto ascertain the

414

Survey ona Traverse l!Gotes Lieut.NVATSON'S

to each course,and a table of corresponding actnalvariation wasconstructed. variations in similar wasplotteddayby day in a log-book Tlletraverse by Mr.Galtonill his ' Art of Travel,' form to that proposed and notes were kept in the same bool. and all observations in everywav. andmostconvenient Theformis e:xcellent, the was not knownat starting, As the rateof the steamer of an hourbeiIlg a quarter wereplottedon a time-sca]e, courses to as by the fifthof an illch; andthiswasadhered represented had been even afterthe rate of the steamer beingconvenient, found that the frequentlyascertained. It was afterwards miles nearly equivalentto 5 geographical ^Tas scale adopted to tlle inch. in ascertaining was at first experienced A little difficultv and the rate of of the stream, while in motion,the veloeitfr results,as it unsatisfactory the steamer. A patentlog gaxTe the through the vesselwas passint, the rateat avhich egistered to the actualrate of progress and this was equivalent water, addedto tlaevelocityof the current. It was,besides,so fresegetablematter by floating in its revolutions quentlystopped was theremethod useless. The following as to be practically mayfindit useful. as others andis noticed, foreadopted, let into each withironstanchions, wasprovided Thesteamer werein pairs, stallchions as awningsupports. rThese bulwark, and the other on the one of each pair on the port bulwarlc, and the line joiningeach twowas exactlyat right starboard, angles to the centreline of the vessel. Two pairsof these were selected,one pair forrardand one pair aft, stanchions nleasured. accurately thsem betxveen andthe distance that the vesselwas movingahead,and it was deAssuming a tree or otherfisedobject herrateof speed, siredto ascertain alld the exact time,to a on the bankof the riverwas chosell, stanchions second,at which the line joiIlingthe tro forward the line joining it wasnoted,andalsothe tilneat wllich passed tllesameobject. ThediSerence passed the twoafterstanchions between anfl also the distance the timesbeinbknown, between it is evidentthat the rate of the vesselcan be the stanchions, by a sileple computation.It is, in fact,a reversal ascertained is found the rateof a stealuer by which method ofthe well-knourn mile. on a measured whichgave the rate a tablewasconstructed To savetrouble, number to eac:E of the vesselin knotsper hourcorresponding had stancllion-line whichelapsedafter the forward of seconds the sameobject. untiltheafterline hadpassed any object passed for ascerIt is evidentthat the same methodwas applioable small floating taining the rate of the currellt,by observillg

of the WAzite Nile from Khartuan to Rigaf.

415

objects in the stream;numerous observations of this kindwere made,andthe meanresultsrecorded. Thenotesandremarks whichareentered in the map,oneach side of the river,are taken llearl) verbatimfrom the logWook, in whicheverything of interestwasrecorded on the spo. Astronomical observations weretaken at variousstationsfrom Fashoda to Rigaf. An 8-inchsextant,reading to 10",wasthe instrument used. Mthenever it waspracticable, starsnorthand south of the zenith for latitude,and stars east and west for time, were observed. Six readings, at least, were generally taken. Lunarobservations weremade at Rigaf and Gondokoro, and the relative lollgitudes of the other stationswere takenwith a chronometer of sllich the rate was foundto be i:airlyregular. These obselvations are all appended to this ?aper. A11 opportunity also oSeredfor observing the transit of Venus on the 9th December, 1874,andthe timesof contact of the planetat egress were notedas accurately as the instrumentsat ourdisposal would allow. Meteorological observations werealsotakendaily. Theaneroid barometers usedwerecheckedat intervals by comparison xvith Captain George's mercurial barometers. Thesebarometers are filledwith great ease,and standveryrougllusagewithout
suIIerlng
rn *

ln,lury.

The channelby whichwe passedthrough the luarsh-district of the White Nile is the one formerly used,sometimes known as the Bahr-el-Gebal.The grass-barrier, which made it impassable forso lnanyyears,was cut throughearlyin 1874,and the channel is nownavigable withollt the least difficulty, though the widthof open wateris very small in some places. rThe Bahr-el-Zeraf, on the contrary, throughwhich Sir Samuel Baker passedon his last journeyto Gondokoro, is nowsaid to be blockedup. It is probablethat the directionsof the channelsthroughthis massof vegetation are constantly
changing.

The greatmarshmay be saidto end at Sllambeh, or about northlat. 7?. Fromthis pointto Gondokoro the banksof thes riverare, for the most part,tolerably firmground. In some placesthe riverbreaksup intoa number of diXerent channels, as will be seenon reference to the map. At one place,between Bohrand Gondokoro, thereis a large branchof the river,nearlyas wide as the main branch itself, which flowsaxvay in a direction to the east of north. The Arabssay thatit joins the River Sobat. This is a most interestingquestion, andit is hoped that it will be investigated. We arrivedat Gondokoro on the 14th November, andwent on to Rigaf on the 29th of the samemonth. At thattirnethe

Surreyof t1ue Lotes on a TrarSerse 41(S Lieut. WATSONES

wind beganto blow steadilyfromthe slorthaild north-east. at tlle sametime. to increase alsoappeared Sickness 3Iaynotthis be due to the fact that the wind,passingos-er and whichare hich lie to the northN-ard, the greatmarshes and with malaria, becomescharged dryingup at this season, in the vicinity healthycountry it to the comparatively carries of Rigaf? stativa at GondoGoverllment There is now no Egyptia:n areat Lardo. of the province koro. The head-quarters 3 feet the Nile hadfallenabout By the middleof November to fal andit continued of that season, belowthe highestpoirlt I left Rigaf to 1875,+when until the end of January, steadily wassomewhat the navigation to Cairo. For this reason retulm in November;but there thanwhenwe ascended moreintricate in sisteendays S:hartum andwe reached wasno real difficulty, afterleavingLardo. In manyplacesthe fall of the riverhad whicl and districts of the country, the character quitechanged underwaterwerellOW dry and covered had been completely withvegetation. fora steamer As the Nile wasso low,thatit wasnot possible and Shendy,we betweenKhartum to get over the cataracts by calnelto Berber,passingthroughMeroe,the prooeeded whichhad the Atbara, andcrossing of Ethiopia, ancientcapital not morethan ankle-deep. stream, an insignificant nowbecome the roadon the rightbank to follow we continued FromBerber of the Wile to Aboo lIamed, and thence acloss the Nubian Nile. on the Lower Desertto :@orosko one. is an interesting to :Sorosko The routefromWhartum halts at Berberand took three weeks,including The journey Aboo Hamed. Of this time sis and a half dayswerespentin the greatSubiandesert. crossing followed is the oneusually to Cairo ThisroutefromKhartum moretimethanthat by it occupies although by the merchants, andthe Red Sea. Suakim

,, ,, 75 4Canisseh ,, Bohr Sobat .. ....... . ... .. .. a .. Eridani .... Sun .... . .... .. .. ..69 12 23 41 50 1 2

WhitelMilefrom Khartum to Rigaf.

417

A P P E N D I X.
Besults of the Astronomtccl,l Observattons made by Lieutenant NYATSON, R.E., at po8ttt0nS on the River NiZedxring the year 1874. Calculatedby WILLIAM ELLIS, F.R.A.S., of the Royctl ObservatoryS Greenweh.
TABLE I. RESULTS OFTEEOBSERVATIONS FOR LATITUDES BY CIRCUM MERIDIAN ALTITUDES.
Date. 1874. 1 Name of Place. Object. | N. or S. 1

| Whether | Separate ObserFof 7enith. +-ation.

Resulting Latitude North.

Oct. 23 YFashoda .. ,, 25 j Sobat .. Nov. 3 ,, S


x?
11

.. .. ..

a ayfflni .. a aygni .. a Gruis


Fomalhaut

:: ..

N. N.
1iT N.

8 8
n

9 55 ;d 9 23 12
Cb )A

Shambeh ,, .

s. . s.
cs .

Z,
I

,, ,, ,, ,, llec.

23 23 27 27 4

Bohr ....... .. Slm . .. .. Gondokoro ....... a Cassiopeiae N. ,, .. a Eridani .......... o. ,, .. Capella .......... N. ,, .. Canopus .......... o. Rigaf .. .. a aassiopeise .. N.
CS

6 6 6 8 8
S

,, ,, ,,
,,

5 1 6
6 10

,, ,, ,,
,

.. .. ..
..

.. .. ..
..

a aassiopeise .. a aassiopeia a Eridani ..... .. a CaSsiopeiae .


a Eridani ..........

N.
S-

A 6
6

N.
S.

W8

,,

10

,,

..

..

N.

S.

I X 8 8

24 OQ 26 5 58 6 0 46 23 12 41 54 15 54 37 + 54 6 4 54 52 4 44 1 4 44 41 4 44 40 4 44 56 4 44 16 + 44 45 444 13 4 44 42
U

7 7 6 6 4 4

From tile results containedin the precedinO rl'able the followingTable was formed:-

TABLE II.-GONCLEDED LATITUDES.


| Xame of Place.
g 0 t

Latitude North.

Number of separate Determinations.

Fashoda ......... Shambeh ......... Canisseh .........

.. .. ..

.. .. ..

9 55 16 7 5 59 6 46 23

,,

1 2 1 4 8
.

Gondokoro . .. Rigaf .. .........


_

.. 1 4 ,?iA28 .. | 4 44 32 .

VOL.XLVI.

2 E

16 16

'*

*- *

418

Lieut. NVATSON'S l!Cotes 07a a Traverse Surveyof the


TABLE III. (::EIRONOMETRrC DIFFERENCES OFLONGITUDE.

only.) (Theseresultsdependon the rateof one chronometer


Illterval in Days between Obser^ations for time at the TwoPlaces. Resulting llifference of LoIIgitude. __ __ II1 Time. In Arc.

Names of Places.

SobatX west of Fashoda .................... .. .. Shambeh, trest of E;obat .................... .. .. Canisseh, east of ShamlJeh .. .. Bohr east of Canisseh .................... .. .. Gondokoro,east of Bohr .................... .. .. Rigaf, west of Gondokora .................... .. .

.. .. .. .. .. ..

2
S

4 aI (; 7

3 1 1 0 0

34 l 20*3 22*8 50 1 20-1 17 5

8 38
0 0 0 0 0 50 20 27 5 4

31

4 42 31 1 22

BY B0RLONGITUDE TABLE IV.-RESULTS OFTHE OBSERVATIONS LUNAR DISTANCES.


for (The tabulardi3tances given in the ' NauticalAlmanac' have been aortected GeeeerwoirehoOb the tilace) of the moorland Saturn as determinedfrom the

Date. 187s,

Name of Place.

Objeetto which Moonwas referred.

Whether the Moon was East or West.

Number of Measures.

Resu}ting Longitude East.

Nov. 27 Gondolioro .. 27
}, ., 0.

Dec. 15 Rigaf , 15 ,,
,, 15 ,

.. .. *.. ** ..

,,

16

16

>

*'

''

19

Xs

..

..

Aldebaran Regulus . . Saturn .. Aldebaran a Arietis *. Saturn .. Saturn . * Saturn , . Aldebaran Aldebaran
Aldebara

E.
.

3 3 ti

31 l5 30 59

45 0

TV.

31 38 45 32 1l 32 30

W. W.

5 :; 3
5

11 30 0

E. E.
.
T!

32 13

31 59 30 31 Sg 30 32 1 32 , 3t 0 0

5 5 5 5

W. W.
t W

1 45 46 30

,,

16
.

..

..

From the results containedirxthe precedina Table the followingTable was. formed;-

Bohr Rigaf ...

....

.. ..

.. .. ..

4 6 12 44 4132 31 31 38 45 39

24-

NilefromKhartum to Rigaf. White


TABLEV.

419

FROM LUNAR DAILYRESULTS FORLONGITEDE SEPARATE DISTANCES.


Resulting Longitudefor Moon.

Date. 1874.

Name of Place. East of Object. ?


T

Concluded West of Object.

Nov. 27 Dec. 15 ,, 16

Gondokoro ......... Rigaf .. .. .. ,, .. .. ..

31 1.5 i5 31 38 45 32 4 0

31 7 23 30 59 0 31 55 8 32 11 30 31 56 5 1 32 0 2
I

and two for In the precedingTable there appearsone result for Gondokoro difference of lonaitude betweenGondokoro Rigaf. But, by the chronometric may and Rigaf containedin Table III., the one result obtainedat Gondokoro be reducedto Rigaf,and the lonCitudeof Rigaf, as fundamentalpoint, thus determined as follows:1874. Nov. 27

.. .. .. Longitudeof Gondokoro ................. of Gondokoro .. By Table III. Rigaffflest .. ..


..

.. .. ......... .. ..
..

31 7 23 E. 0 4 22 31 3 1 E. 31 55 8 E. 32 0 2 E.

,,

,, 27 Inferredlongitudeof Rigaf Dec. 1B Longitude of Rigaf .. .. 7o ....... .. ,, 16 ,,

.. ..
..

.. ..
,.

.. ..
..

Fromwhichis adaptedfor the absolutelongitudeof Rigaf, 31?39' 24"E. (meanof the threeresults). 31? 39t 24N' E.,and the chronometric With the adoptedlongitudeof Rifflaf, diSerencesof lonaitude contailled in Table III., the lonaitudes of all the places includedin that Table may now be deduced; and, adding thereto the results are obtained:latitudes from Table II., the followinffl

LATITUDES AND LONGITEDES. TABLE VI. CONCLIJDED


Name of Place. Latitude yorth
, ,,

E.ash fLongGitude
o h #

Fashoda .. Sobat .. Shambeh .. Canisseh ..

.. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

.. .. .. .. ..

9 55 16 9 23 50 7 5 59 6 46 23 4 54 28

32 31 30 31

19 7 40 36 50 32 11 14

Gondokoro ..

31 43 46

2 E 2

of the Noteson a Tl averseSurve?/ 420 Lieut.WATSON'S


VENUS OFTEEPLANET OF THEEGRESS VII. OBSERVATION-S TABLE THESUN, ACROSS OF VENUS THESUN, IN THETRANSIT PROM 8, 1874. DECEMBER
(Place of observation, Rigaf, latitude N. 4? 44' 32", lonitude already detersnined. See Table VI.)
lSratch fast of Rigaf Mean Solar Time. ,, H., ,, E. 31? 39t 24 tXas

Phase ol)served.

Watch Time.

R.lgaf Mean Solar Tlme. (AStronomical Reckoning.) H. , ,8

H.

Dec. S Fomationofblackline ,, ............... Xnimalcontact* ............... ,, :ernal contact t

20 35 26-0 0 27 19-6 20 35 55 5 1 (:)27 19-6 21 4 52*0 0 27 20-0

Dec. ,, ,,

20 8 6-4 ' 20 8 35-9 20 37 32-0

* Was a good observation. t It was diflicult to observe this lvith acouraey.

White NilefromKhartum to Rigaf.

421

Reporton the Calculations of Reights from Observations made by Lieutenant WATSON, R.E.,on the White Nile. By RICHARD STRACHAN, Meteorological Officer.
Date. Place.

Elevation above Sea Level.

1874 Oct. 9, 10 Oct. 26, 27, 28 1875. Feb. 6 1874. Nov. 11 days Nov. 19, 21 Dec. 4 Dec. 21 days

Rhartum Sobat ..

.. ..

Feet. 1414 1427

Bahrel Gazal

1476

Gondokoro . .
, . . .

785{11 days. 1774 1775 17l9{Mean of

Rigaf

..

Theseheights haare been calculatedfiom observations made with mercurial barometers of CaptainGeorge's pattern for traveller3. The original observations are stated to have been correctedfor instrumentalerrors. \NThere a number of observationshave been made in the same month, the means of them have been used as the data for the upper station. The barometrical observations have been reducedto temperature 32?, by the table for graduations on glass scales,these barometers being dividedon the tubes themselves. 'l'heair temperatures have been taken as correct. The followingare the data used for the sea-level: the pressure having been obtained from Buchan's isobarometric charts, and the temperature from Dove'sisothermalcharts:Month | Pressure. | Temperature. Inches.

February ......... .. June ... .. .. July ... .. .. Septenlber ......... .. October ... .. .. Noarember ......... .. December .. ..

29-9 29-8 29SS 29l 8 29*9 29 9 29 9

81* 5 82 81 81 80 79 78

Rigaf iBohr ,,

....... . .. .. .. .. ,, .. ,, .. .. 6 11 .. ,,6 19,21 ,,7 .. - 9 .. -0320 21- -- 0@22 0 0-20 27 0-115 0-123 0-155 0-112

422

Lieut. NVATSON'S l\Jotes

on

Traverse Survey of tAte

Considering tlzat the data for the sea-level must be subject to some III1certainty, it has not been deemed advisable to apply any correctionfor the diurnalranaeof the barometer. Hypsometricalobservationshave also beell madewith evident care. But, as the hypsometercan only be regardedas a substitute for the mercurialbarometer-the calculation of heights from its indicationsdepending upon the barometric formula it should,when readwith the barometer, be considered a check, and preferenceshould be given to the barometer. Mercurial barometers are not liable to errors, which are of much importancein measurinC elevations: on the contrary, hypsometerschange their corrections by the rise of the zeropoint due to use and aae, and a small unknownerrorcauses a great diSerencein the heights. It would, therefore, be of little use to calculate these heights from the hypsometer'sreadings. The two serieswould merely serve to show by their differences that either the barometers or the hypsometers were not correct. rlthesedifferences have been calculatedby a shorter process,and it is interestingto notice how consistently they tell the same tale. They are as under:
Flace. y. Date. Br. D. | lI. o
^

B. Inch.

Khartum .... .. Mouth of Sobat Mouth of Gazal Shambeh ....... .. Gondokoro ..

.. .. .. .. ..

1874 10 , 187o 1874 ,,

9 ..

- 0 30 - O 1S - 0 19 - 0 30 - 0-21

. 0-171 *. 0 101 *.0 109 *. 0*174 *. 0-121

6 22 .. 2 6 .. 7 - .. iO 21 ..

,,

..
EANS

..
..

..
..

,,
..

12
.. ..

4 ..

0-21 .
- 0 ' 228

0J121

* 0 * 130

Errorin heighti due to H = *228 x 527 = 120 feet. ,, ,, ,, B- *130 x 92-120 ,, The columnII is the correction due to the llypsometerson the supposition that the barometers were accurate; B that due to the barometers taking the hypsometers as correct. The mean correction E shows that the hypsometers wouldhave given heights on an average 120 feet lower than those deduced; the mean of B, that if the barometers are so incorrect thc heights ought to be educedby about120 feet. However, it i8 scarcelypossiblefor the barometers to have been incorrect to anytEling like this estent, while the correction forthe hypsometers is not only possible but very probable. It would be interestincr to have the instruments tested at the Kew Observatory. If this could be done, and the restllts should happen to supy)ort the inferenceshere made, it would afford a valuabIe conErnwation of the theoreticalaccuracyof the 'lnables

AKhite NilefromKhartum toRigaf.

423

founded on the barometricalformula of Laplace, and the vapour tensiou formulaof Repault. It may be noticedthat the correctionsactually applied to the readings of the hypsometersaverage about + 0+2; and consequentlythe residual correctiondeducednow seems to show that their zeros have risen, so that noxv they are really moreaccuratethan they were originally,the plus and miIlus corrections beinOalmostnil. The comparisons institutedbetweenthe barometerand hypsometer observations aSorda convincina proof of ths fidelity with which the observations have been made.

METEO1BOL()GI04IJ OBSERYATIONS takenon the WEITENILE,betweenKEI BY LIEUT.WATSON R.E.


Temperature in Sllade.

Barometer corrected for InstrumeIltal Error.

Date.

Place.
l

A.M. ff.O

P.r.

Noon 12.0.

8*o

A.}r

8.0;

|I Noon. } 12.0
_

P.wr.
SO Or,y. Wet,

Dry.

Wet.

i Dry. Wet.
Fi

1874. Oct. 9
,,
,

:Ehartum .. On

..
..

10
11

,, ,, ,, ,,
,,

12 13 14 15
16

wLite Nile
, .. , .

..
..

28*58 ('8*66
. .

..

..

..

..

28 67 28 6+ 28 28 28 28 28 63 67 65 53 70

.. .. .. .. .. ., .. ,. .,
I

28 ' 58 28'57 28*58

8B 77
* .

7'2 68
. * * !

* , .

80 5 83-5 28 *63 28 ' 66 28' 58 28 ' 66 28 ' 65 2S'64 78 79 76 i 28 70 1 28'64 82*5 79 89


9

73 75 74 72 74 75 75 75 75 73

S7-5 90 5 93
91

.. 86 76-5 89 77 75 73 76 .. 77 78 77 87 88 85 89 82 84 78 8 76
*

75 89

,, ,,
,,

17 18
lg

93
. *

79 .. ,,

87
90 94

78 7.S 75 73 71 73

28 -69 28 70 28-70

77 i 76

,,
! 1

20 21

,, 22 ,, 23 ,, 24 ,, 25 ,, 26 ,, 27

l 9

Sobat..
, 9

..
..

28-67 28 -61 28-6, 28 o66 28-64 28 67 ..

.. .. .. .. 28 58 28 60

28- 58 28- 55 28 53 28-64 28-61 28 55 28- 60 28 63 28 - 65 28 * 65 28 60 28- 55 28- 59 28 - 58 2S s 53 28 57 28 57 28 - 54 28 55 28 52


. .

85 ,G 82
. .

71 89 6g 85 5

70

78 9

74 77 77 75 77 78 78 79 78 77 76 76 76 77
* e

78 80 78

,, 28 WhiteNile 011 ,, 29 30 ,, ,, 31
, .

..

. ,

28 G7 28G67 28 60 28 67 28 65 28G70 28-66 28 67 28 62 28 62 28 *64 288 B2 28 61 28 -60 28 *57 28-60 28 61 28 58 28 54 28 61 28-60 28z60 28- 61 28 *57

84 74 86 73 87 75 88
. .

77 79 78 80 79 74 80
* .

74 73 73 74 74 75 75 71 76
..

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
..

78 78 78 79 82 77 83 80 78 76 79 75 77 78 80 78 77 79

Nov. ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, .. ,, ,,
,, ,,

1 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9
10 11

, 9 . , ,, . ,

86 74 87 74 86 75 87 75 3 76 85 74 86 76 87
* v

78 82 S2 77 79 73
. 9

75 76 75 74 76 71 73 71 71 70
..

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
..

75 75 72 75 72 73 73 71 74 74 74 87

,,

. . , . ., .,

,, ,, ,, ,,

12 13

, ,

2S*59 28 -58 28 *53 1 28-60 28 59 28-56 28s49 28X50 j 28*46 28 47 28 42 28*42 ..

86 83 84 88 86 87

76 76 74 76 73 75

7o 74 74
. .

28 40 28 41 28 40
* 4

78 80 80

71 74 75

.. .. ..

14 .. Gondokoro 15

, ,

*1

,,,

.U .

.. .. ..

.. .. .

.... ..

METEOROLOGICAL OB8BRVATIONS talen on the WHITE NILE, between:EH BY LIBUT. WATSON, R.E. continued.
Barometer collected for Ixlstrumental Error.

Temperature In Shade.
w.Or. 8.0 Noon. 12.0 P.}I, 8.0 I)ry. Wet.
0 Wet.

:Date.

Place.

A.MW

8 0
_ _

Noon. 12.0

Dry.
P.M. 8.0.

| Wet.

lAry.

1874. Nov.16 Gonclokoro .. .. ,, 17 ,, 19 ,, 20


.. .. ..

* * * * ) *

* *

* * @ * *

l
* * * @ . * .

28-43 28 *43
A.3I. 9.0

2<S29 28*34
-

28 '38 28- 36 P.}l. 9.0

76
QQ

7 71 1 93 73 i
j 1 P,ZI. 3.0 92

76

83 77
r.M.

70

71

p-5fX

3.0 28 * 28 28 32 28 23 28*21 28* 25 28 *30 28 *34


..
.

A.M. 9.0

,, 21 ,, 22 ,, 23 ,, 24 ,, 25 26 ,, 27 , 28 ,, 29 011WlliteNile ..
, . .. .. , . .. .. .. .. .. . > .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. } . .. ..

..

..

28 42 28 *46 28 39 28*37 28 27 28 - 41 21 46 28 *48


.,

28 - 36 28-33 2.S 32 28 @ 24 28433 28 36


2g-4,5
* 5

8G 80 81 88 82 82 81 80
..
..

75 72 71 69e
70!

72 71 70
..
..

91 95 93 96 94 90 ..
..
..

' 76 ! 72 72 70 76 75 76 ..
I
l

77 169 593*S 78 69 93 76 70 95 77 70 93 79 69 96 76 68 9fi ! 80 71 92


.. ..

7 6 7 6 6 7 7

l
i

..

l
.

..

..

..

..

..

30

Rigaf

..

..

..

e * **

* .

*@ *

@ ** ??

Dec.

* 8 s * * * ? * *

*f * * * *

,, ,,
, , , ,

2 3
#

* X } * @ *e

* * .

fi

*v

<
@ s @ * * @ @ *

,.

,
t G

7
o

Q
s s * . * * * *

, ,, ,,

9 10 11

28 44 28-32 28 v43 28-29 28-42 28 29 28 43 28*32 28 48 28 *32 28*45


** . . , .

28*40 28 32 28 29 28 39 28 35 28*36
, .

84 83 81 83 80 79 83 86 87
QN
0

74 71 70 69 68 73 72 70 70 72
0

85 91 94 93
94
. .
. .

80 80 81 84
* .

70 72 73 72 73
* . * .

71
*?

72 73 72
* *

91
94

@*

**

**

,,
, ,

12 13
14
t

**

28 42 28 43 28441 28 41 28843 28 39 28-38 28-37 28-37 28 40 28 42 28844 28845


* . * 8

28 *28 28 26 28 *27 28 26 as*27 28 - 28 28 26 28 -25 28 *24 28 *25 28 930 28 32 28 30


*..

2S*34 28 34 28 33 28 34 28 30 28*31 28 31 28 29 28*X0 28 29 28 31


* . . .

94
0

85 84 81 80
. .

69 70
0

74 72 73 73

96 95 93 95 94
90

68
. .

93s 93
96

83 81 84 84 S3 84 85 81 81
.. ..

84
. .

94 93

69
* *

,,

, ,, ,, ,, , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

69 72 68 69 71 68 68 68
. . . .

**

95 ao 95 95 97 94 94 95
.. ..

73 71 72 74 ,2 73 71 2 71
* . * ?

2
0;

QO

ol 83 80 84
.. ..

.*

96 70 95 70 96 71 -97 70 98 71 98 70 95 98 96
* . * * * * , 8 * . . 8

**

* * .

**
. .

..

* * .

28@4-2 28*25
X } ** @@ **

28 28

84

69

97

*. 83

70

, 70

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi