CHAPTER XXIII.HOMEWARD BOUND.[edit]
Palander's wounds were not serious: the bushman dressed
the contused limbs with herbs, and the worthy astronomer,
sustained by his triumph, was soon able to travel. Any
exuberance on his part, however, was of short duration, and
he quickly became again engrossed in his world of figures.
He only now retained one of the registers, because it had
been thought prudent that Emery should take possession of
the other. Under the circumstances, Palander made the
surrender with entire good-humour.
The operation of seeking a plain suitable for a base was
now resumed. On the 1st of April the march was somewhat
retarded by wide marshes; to these succeeded
numerous pools, whose waters spread a pestilential odour;
but, by forming larger triangles, Colonel Everest and his
companions soon escaped the unhealthy region.
The whole party were in excellent spirits. Zorn and Emery
often congratulated themselves on the apparent concord
that existed between their chiefs. Zorn one day expressed
his hope to his friend that when they returned to Europe
they would find that peace had been concluded between
England and Russia, so that they might remain as good
friends as they had been in Africa.
Emery replied that he acquiesced entirely in the hope:
in days when war is seldom long protracted they might be
sanguine all would be terminated by the date of their
return.
Zorn had already understood from Emery that it was
not his intention to return immediately to the Cape, and
expressed his hope that he might introduce him to the
observatory at Kiew. This proposal Emery expressed his
desire to embrace, and added that he should indulge the
expectation that Zorn would at some future time visit the
Cape.
With these mutual assignations they made their plans
for future astronomical researches, ever reiterating their
hopes that the war would be at an end.
“Anyhow,” observed Emery, “Russia and England will
be at peace before the Colonel and Strux; I have no trust
in any reconciliation of theirs.”
For themselves, they could only repeat their pledges of
mutual good-will.
Eleven days after the adventure with the chacmas, the
little troop, not far from the Zambesi Falls, arrived at a
level plain several miles in extent, and perfectly adapted
for the establishment of a base. On the edge of the plain
rose a native village, composed of a few huts containing a
small number of inhabitants, who kindly received the
Europeans. Colonel Everest found the proximity of the
natives very opportune, since the measurement of the base
would occupy a month, and being without waggons, or any
materials for an encampment, he would have had no resource
but to pass the time in the open air, with no other shelter
than that afforded by the foliage.
The astronomers took up their abode in the huts, which
were quickly appropriated for the use of their new occupants.
Their requirements were but small; their one thought was
directed towards verifying their calculations by measuring
the last side of their last triangle.
The astronomers at once proceeded to their work. The
trestles and platinum rods were arranged with all the care
that had been applied to the earliest base. Nothing was
neglected; all the conditions of the atmosphere, and the
variations of the thermometer, were taken into account, and
the Commission, without flagging, brought every energy to
bear upon their final operation.
The work, which lasted for five weeks, was completed on
the 15th of May. When the lengths obtained had been
estimated and reduced to the mean level of the sea at the
temperature of 61° Fahrenheit, Palander and Emery presented
to their colleagues the following numbers:—
Toises.
New base actually measured 5075.25
The same base deduced trigonometrlcally from
the entire series 5075.11
Difference between the calculation and
the observation .14
Thus there was only a difference of less than 1/6 of a toise
that is to say, less than ten inches; yet the first base and
the last were six hundred miles apart.
When the meridian of France was measured from Dunkirk
to Perpignan, the difference between the base at Melunand
that at Perpignan was eleven inches. The agreement
obtained by the Anglo-Russian Commission was still more
remarkable, and thus made the work accomplished in the
deserts of Africa, amid dangers of every kind, more perfect
than any previous geodetic operation.
The accuracy of this unprecedented result was greeted
by the astronomers with repeated cheers.
According to Palander's reductions, the value of a
degree in this part of the world was 57037 toises. This
was within a toise, the same as was found by Lacaille at
the Cape in 1752: thus, at the interval of a century, the
French astronomer and the members of the Anglo-Russian
Commission had arrived at almost exactly the same result.
To deduce the value of the mètre, they would have to wait
the issue of the operations which were to be afterwards
undertaken in the northern hemisphere. This value was
to be the 1/10000000 of the quadrant of the terrestrial
meridian. According to previous calculations, the quadrant,
taking the depression of the earth into account, comprised
10,000,856 metres, which brought the exact length of the
mètre to .013074 of a toise, or 3 feet 0 inches 11.296 lines.
Whether this was correct the subsequent labours of the
Commission would have to decide.
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The astronomers had now entirely finished their task,
and it only remained for them to reach the mouth of the
Zambesi, by following inversely the route afterwards taken
by Dr. Livingstone in his second voyage from 1858 to
1864.
On the 25th of May, after a somewhat laborious journey
across a country intersected with rivers, they reached the
Victoria Falls. These fine cataracts fully justified their
native name, which signifies “sounding smoke.” Sheets of
water a mile wide, crowned with a double rainbow, rushed
from a height twice that of Niagara. Across the deep basalt
chasm the enormous torrent produced a roar like peal
after peal of thunder.
Below the cataract, where the river regained its calmness,
the steamboat, which had arrived a fortnight previously by
an inferior affluent of the Zambesi, awaited the astronomers,
who soon took their places on board.
There were two to be left behind. Mokoum and the
pioneer stood on the bank. In Mokoum the English were
leaving, not only a devoted guide, but one whom they
might call a friend. Sir John was especially sorry to part
from him, and had offered to take him to Europe, and
there entertain him as long as he pleased to remain. But
Mokoum had previous engagements; in fact, he was to
accompany Livingstone on the second voyage which the
brave traveller was about to undertake up the Zambesi, and
Mokoum was not a man to depart from his word. He was
presented with a substantial recompense, and, what he prized
still more, the kind assurances of regard of the Europeans,
who acknowledged how much they owed to him. As the
steamer left the shore to take the current in the middle
of the river, Sir John's last gesture was to wave an adieu to
his associate.
The descent of the great river, whose banks were dotted
with numerous villages, was soon accomplished. The
natives, regarding with superstitious admiration the smoking
vessel as it moved by mysterious mechanism, made no
attempt to obstruct its progress.
On the 15th of June the Colonel and his companions
arrived at Quilimane, one of the principal towns at the
mouth of the Zambesi. Their first thought was to ask for
news of the war. They found that it had not yet come to
a termination, and that Sebastopol was still holding out
against the allied armies. This was a disappointment to
the Europeans, now so united in one scientific object;
but they received the intelligence in silence, and prepared
to start. An Austrian merchant-vessel, “La Novara,” was
just setting out for Suez; in that they resolved to take their
passage.
Three days after, as they were on the point of embarking,
the Colonel assembled his colleagues, and in a calm voice
reminded them how in the last eighteen months they had
together experienced many trials, and how they had been
rewarded by accomplishing a work which would call forth
the admiration of all scientific Europe. He could not
refrain from giving expression to his trust that they would
feel themselves bound in the common fellowship of a true
alliance.
Strux bowed slightly, but did not interrupt the Colonel,
who proceeded to deplore the tidings of the continuation of
warfare. When he referred to the expected capitulation
of Sebastopol, Strux indignantly rejected the possibility of
such an event, which no union of France and England, he
maintained, could ever effect.
There was, however, it was admitted on all hands, a propriety
in the Russians and English submitting to the national
status of hostility. The necessities of their position were thus
clearly defined, and under these conditions they embarked
in company on board “La Novara.”
In a few days they arrived at Suez. At the moment of
separation Emery grasped Zorn's hand, and said,—
“We are always friends, Michael!”
“Always and every where, William!” ejaculated Zorn;
and with this sentiment of mutual devotion they parted.
The Commission was dissolved.
THE END.
