ECLIPSE EXPEDITION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 106, 1 November 1930, Page 8

ECLIPSE EXPEDITION

LIFE ON A TROPICAL ISLAND-

WITH THE NEW ZEALAND PARTY

(By Dr. C. E. Adams, New Zealand Government Astronomer.) NIUAFOU, 18th October. The expedition left Auckland on Tuesday, 23rd September, by the B.M.S. Niagara, and after a calm, pleasant voyage reached Suva at 9 p.m. on Friday, 26th September. Arrangements were made- to transfer the party and equipment to H.M.S. Laburnum, Commander Hotham, and the work was bogun early on Saturday. A very busy morning wag spent in this work, and soon after noon the Laburnum put to sea. The ship mado a quick run to Niuafou, and sighted the island at daybreak on Monday, 29th September. . Immediately the anchor was dropped two native boats left the shore, and work at once began upon unloading the equipment. Mr. Ramsay, one of the few white- residents, and Professor Mitchell came off to the ship to welcome us. We got safely ashore and landed all equipment without accident. The landing-piaco is partly sheltered from the open sea by a spur of lava. The boats back in and are assisted by a rope, anchored parallel to the rock. This rope is put round the two posts in the bow and ster^i of the boat, which is held fairly securely in position. The boat has considerable motion, and great skill is necessary to prevent accidents or damage to tho craft. ■ We were all ashore before noon, arid watched the Laburnum leave for Nukualofa. THE AMERICAN TELESCOPES. Tho American Eclipse Expedition had reached Niuafou on 20th August, and when we arrived had a well-estab-lished camp, with their telescopes all erected. The biggest telescopes are the 63ft focus 9in aperture, and the- 65ft focus 7in aperture. The first is built to point to the sun at tho time of the eclipse. This telescope, with its tower and dark room, is the most imposing feature of the- landscape. The 65ft telescope is mounted horizontally, and the sun's light is reflected into it by a mirror moved by clockwork. Professor Mitchell is in charge of tho astronomical work, and his special interest is in the flash spectrum, which, as its name implies, can only be photographed at the exact beginning or ending of totality. , Commander Keppler is in charge of the whole party, and has with him United States Navy officers, radio operators, photographers, and assistants. Commander Keppler and his party have been most kind, and have given the New Zealand expedition every possible assistance. With the American, party of 20 and the New Zealand party of seven, the camp presents a busy scene. BRACKISH CRATER LAKE. The- island belongs to the Tongan Group. It is the top of an immense volcano rising in places to 700 ft. above the sea. It is roughly circular, about five miles in diameter, and has a lake about three miles across and about 70ft above sea level. There are no streams on the island, and all drinking water is rain water stored in. large concrete tanks. The water in the lake is" alkaline. Soundings made on the lake show a depth of 270 ft. The rim of the crater is very steep on the lake side. The nine native villages are distributed round the island. The village of Tutu, on the western side, was destroyed by an eruption of lava on 25th July, 1929, fortunately without the loss of any' lives. The island is one mass of coconut palms, and' the chief activity of the natives is the preparation of copra. The native population is over 1300, and they are a fine type and veryhealthy looking. • Both eclipse expeditions are in the best of health. There are no sandflies, hoiiseflies, or blowflies, while only a very, few mosquitoes have been seen. So far it has not been necessary to use the mosquito nets. Pigs, fowls, and dogs run. .freely about, in the villages:' There are some horses and cattle on the island. NATIVES AND RADIO. The camp is at the village of Agaha (pronounced Angaha), on the north shore of tho islancl. The village is near the spa, and at a height of 70 to 100 ft. Owing to the shortage of wnt-er, every afternoon a procession of mothers and children goes down to the sea, and the children are washed in the salt water lying in pools on the lava coast. There are very few beaches round the coast, and all sand required for the concrete tanks is carried up by the native men and women. All water used for concrete is sea water, carried up in five-gallon oil drums. Usually two natives carry the drum, supported on a light rod on their shoulders. There are three churches on the island —W-esleyan, Roman Catholic, and Tongan Free Church —and services begin before 6 a.m. On Monday, 29th September, there was a very large gathering of natives at Agaha to celebrate the opening of the Tongan Government radio station, and the first Press radiogram was sent by the New Zealand Eclipse Expedition. The natives performed many dances. Each village gave a separate performance, and the singing was particularly good. PROSPECTS FOR ECLIPSE. Our washing is done very well by the native wo~men, who have to carry the clothes over to the lake, owing to tho shortage of water. Ironing is done on the floor of the hut with an old /charcoal iron. The squatting position of the ironer would be very tiring to a European. The hand sewing machine is also used on the floor. Since our arrival it has been clear at the eclipse time for about half the time and cloudy for the other half. There is usually a trade wind blowing from the south-east, and this keeps the temperature down, so that 90deg. has been reached only once or twice. Generally the day temperature is between 80deg. and 85deg. F. The rainfall has been very small, and not enough to fill the tanks. Considerable excitement was experienced on Friday afternoon when the s.s. Ventura passed the camp on her way to Pago Pago. She carried some of the American party, who tranship at Pago Pago and return here by the Tanager on 20th October.