Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Handling

The introduction is over.William.Amory got busy.In his position as an ordinary astronomer at the Cape Town Observatory, he considered himself hierarchically subordinate to Colonel Everett, the representative of the British government, and Mathieu.Strux co-chairs the scientific committee.In addition, he knew Everett as a distinguished scientist because he had become famous for astronomy calculations and occultation calculations.The forty-year-old astronomer was a calm, methodical man who lived his life with hour-to-hour precision.Nothing is unexpected for him.His accuracy in all things is no less than that of the celestial bodies passing through the lines of longitude.It can be said that every act of his life is as accurate as a chronometer.William.Knowing this of him, Amory never doubted that the Scientific Committee would arrive as scheduled.

Now the young astronomer looked to the colonel for an explanation of what he had come to South Africa to accomplish.However, Colonel Everett never mentioned, William.Amory felt that it was inappropriate to ask.Maybe the bell to talk about it hadn't struck the colonel's head yet. William.Amory also knew, John.Mr. Murray, a rich scholar, is James.Ross and Lord.Elgin's contender, though not yet an official title, has brought glory to Britain through his prolific work.Science owed him a great debt, and he had spent £20,000 building a gigantic reflector to rival the Parsons Telescope, with which data on some double stars had just been established.He was a man of forty at the most, with an aristocratic air, but his expression gave nothing away from his character.

For the three Russians, Strux, Ballandre, and Monsieur Zorn, their names are to William.Amory is no stranger, but personally, young astronomers don't know them.Nicola.Ballandre and Michelle.Zorn is to Mathieu.Strux appears to be quite respectful because of his mediocre achievements and is guaranteed respect by his leadership. William.The only thing Amory noticed was that the two scientists were evenly divided, three British and three Russians.Even the crew on the steamship Queen and Tsar had a total of ten people, five of whom were from England and five from Russia. Mr. Amory, said Colonel Everett, once we got to know each other, we know each other now as if we had floated together from London to Wolpass Point.Also, I have a special respect for you, not only because of your achievements at such a young age, but also because of your reputation for integrity.On my application, the British government nominates you to take part in experiments we will be conducting in southern Africa.

William.Amory bowed in thanks, thinking he was going to tell himself what his motives were for bringing this scientific committee all the way to the southern hemisphere.Yet Colonel Everett made no explanation on this point. Mr. Amory, said the Colonel again, I wonder if the preparations are in place. Everything is ready, Colonel.In accordance with the advice given to me in my letter by the esteemed Mr. Erie, I left Cape Town a month ago for the La Taku Observatory.There I gathered all the necessary materials, food, wagons, horses, and Bushmen for exploration in the interior of Africa.A guard of a hundred hardy men awaits you at Ratakou, led by a well-known and capable hunter. Allow me to introduce you to Morcum the Bushman.

Morcombe the Bushmen!exclaimed Colonel Everett enthusiastically, Morcum the Bushman!His name is all too familiar to me. It was the name of an agile, tenacious African.John.Marui interjected and turned to the hunter.The broad airs of these Europeans did not embarrass the hunter in the slightest. Hunter Morcum.William.Amory introduced his companions to them. Bushmen, your name is well known in the United Kingdom.Colonel Everett said, You were Anderson's friend, David.Livingston's Guide I am honored to have a friendship with him.On behalf of the United Kingdom, I thank you and congratulate Mr. Amory for choosing you to lead the expedition.A hunter like you should be a lover of weapons, and I beg you to choose your favorite among our wide range of weapons, we know that a good gun should be in the hand of a good shooter.

A satisfied smile appeared on the corner of Bushman's mouth.It may have touched him that his work was valued by the British, but no evidence of such value was better than Colonel Everett himself.He then thanked him very politely, and in William.Amory was alone on the other side while his conversation with the European continued. The young astronomer once again fully explained the details of the expedition organized by himself. Colonel Everett seemed very happy, so he decided to go to Lataku City as soon as possible, because the expedition team must catch up after the rainy season, that is, three months later. Depart on the first few days of the month.

Colonel, how would you like to get to that city?William.Amory asked. Via the Orange River, since its tributary, the Juluman River, flows through La Taku. Indeed.The astronomer replied, but no matter how advanced and fast your steamboat is, it cannot pass the Molkata Falls. We'll go around the falls, Mr. Amory.The colonel said, We will carry the boat around the waterfall, and then re-take the waterway after going upstream.If I'm not mistaken, the stretch of water from here to La Taku is passable for a very shallow-draft steamer. Perhaps, Colonel, said the astronomer, but this steamer is so heavy

Mr. Amory, said the colonel, the ship was a masterpiece of Liverpool Leird's, and could be taken apart piece by piece, and could easily be put back together again, with a rudder bolt and a few screws.You took a four-wheeled carriage to the waterfall? Yes, Colonel, William.Amory replied that our camp was less than a mile from here. good.I shall have the Bushmans drive the wagon to the moorings, and they shall dismantle the ship's parts, together with the steam engine, and put them on the wagons, and we shall go straight up to the point where the upper Orange can be navigated again.

The men split up to carry out Colonel Everett's orders.The Bushmen disappeared into the jungle after returning before one o'clock as promised.The steamboat was quickly taken apart.The cargo on board was not much, only a few boxes of physical instruments, a large number of guns manufactured by Paddymore and Edinburgh, a few barrels of wine, a few barrels of dried meat, a few boxes of ammunition, a few pieces of luggage that could not be less, and some tents. Cloth and other paraphernalia that seemed to be from a travel shop, a carefully folded gutta-percha boat that only took up the space of a cover cloth, some daily necessities, etc., etc., and finally a The fan-shaped machine gun is a simple weapon, but it is enough to discourage the enemy who dares to approach the steamer.

All these items were placed on the shore.The steam engine has eight horsepower and is divided into three parts: boiler, steam turbine and propeller, and the steam turbine can be removed from the boiler with just a wrench.These parts are taken away one after another, and the interior of the steamer becomes empty. Apart from the space occupied by the steam engine and fuel, the rest of the ship was divided into two parts: the forward cabin for the crew and the aft cabin for Captain Everett and his companions.In an instant, the bulkheads were removed, the boxes and bunks removed, and the vessel was reduced to a simple shell.

This hull, thirty-five feet long, consisted of three parts, like the horses used by Dr. Livingston on his first expedition to the Zambezi.Like the Steamboat Robert.The hull is made of galvanized steel, which is both light and strong.Some screws assemble the plank to the keel made of the same material, and also ensure the tightness between them and the airtightness of the ship. William.Amory was amazed at the ease and speed of the work.Less than an hour after the arrival of the wagon with the hunter and the two Bushmen, it was time to start loading the dismantled steamer. The wagon was a primitive form of transport, built upon four large, heavy wheels forming two separate sections twenty feet apart.By length, this is a truly American sedan.The two axles looked harsh, and the axle shoulders extended a full foot beyond the wheels.The cart was drawn by six tame buffaloes, harnessed to each other, sensitive to the goads in the driver's hands.Only this type of ruminant can pull a four-wheeler when it is fully loaded.No matter how dexterous the driver is, there is a chance that the cart will get stuck in the mud more than once. The crew of the Queen and the Tsar were responsible for loading the vehicle to ensure that the various parts of the hull were kept in balance, because sailors are well known for their agility. Loading was only a game for these brave men. The large parts of the steamship were placed directly on the axles. The strongest part of the upper quad.Cases, barrels, and packages that are light or fragile find a place to rest between the larger parts.For these true travelers, a four-mile walk is no more than a walk. At three o'clock in the afternoon, when everything was loaded, Colonel Everett signaled to set off.by WilliamAmory led the way, the colonel and his companions in front, and the Bushmans, crew, and coachman followed more slowly and far behind. It's an easy walk.The slope leading up the Orange River made the trip easier and even extended it a lot.It's a good thing for a heavy-duty four-wheeler, as you'll have more time to reach your destination. As for the members of the scientific committee.They climbed briskly up the backside of the hill.Words grew between them, but no one spoke of the purpose of the expedition.These Europeans were so appreciative of the splendor of nature before them, the wild beauty of nature which fascinated them as it had once fascinated the young astronomer, that they were not averse to the journey because of its natural beauty.Their appreciation is restrained, like the Englishman's aversion to everything that is called inappropriate.Molkata Falls got their appreciative applause, maybe just fingertip applause, but it was also meaningful.Disregard isn't exactly their motto. Moreover, William.Amory thought it appropriate to pay homage to the guests of Southern Africa.He was at home, and, like all overenthusiastic bourgeois, he presented his guests with every plant and tree of his African park. About half-past four they rounded the Molcutta Falls and walked up a plateau where the upper reaches of the Orange River lay before them as far as the eye could see.They were by the river, waiting for the carriage to arrive. The four-wheeler reached the top of the mountain around five o'clock, and its journey was finally over.Colonel Everett immediately ordered the unloading to begin, and at the same time announced that they were on the road again at dawn the next day. All night was used for various tasks.The hull was adjusted in less than an hour, the propellers were reinstalled in their original positions, metal partitions were erected between the fore and aft chambers, the fuel tanks were reinstalled, the various luggage were moved on board in order, everything All quickly took their positions, once again proving the competence of the crew of the Queen and the Tsar.The English and Russians were handpicked, disciplined, able, and trustworthy men. The next day, February 1, the steamer was waiting for the passengers to board early in the morning.Black smoke was already swirling from the chimneys, mingled with puffs of white steam from the locomotive as the mechanic started the boat.The pressure of the steam engine is very high, there is no condenser, and every time the piston is moved, steam will be ejected.The boiler is equipped with an ingeniously installed steam turbine with a large heating area, which can meet the required steam within half an hour.They stocked up with large quantities of ebony and guaiac trees, which were abundant in the country, and used these precious woods to burn vigorously. At six o'clock Colonel Everett gave the order to depart, and the passengers and crew boarded the Queen and Tsar.The Bushmen, who were well versed in the river course, boarded the boat together and asked the two Bushmen to bring the carriage to La Taku. The moment the steamer let go of its moorings, Colonel Everett asked the astronomer, By the way, Mr. Amory, do you know the purpose of our visit? I know nothing, Colonel. Quite simply, Mr. Amory, we have come to South Africa to measure the length of the meridians.