'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎93] (122/524)

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BOMBAY GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, * xciii
ingly completed before the rains. <c Numerous difficulties,” be says,
particularly in setting up the bifilar occurred through my previous
ignorance of the instruments, and from my destitution of assistants ; so
that it was not until the first week of September that the Magnetome
ters were permanently fixed.” From that date Professor Orlebar began
his observations and continued them till h^ left for England in May
1842. Besides the Native Assistants, he had the aid of three Non
commissioned officers from the Sappers and Miners-—one of whom,
Serjeant Dunn, seems to have been an enthusiastic and laborious obser
ver, to whose diligence we are much indebted for the accuracy of the
earlier observations. Another of the three proved a different character^
and the detection of his untrustworthiness threw doubts on the value
of his observations, in consequence of which he wns dismissed,—a
warning to superintendents not to repose too much confidence in Assist
ants, nor to leave their observations for any length of time without per
sonally testing them.
In 1845 Government supplied a set of small instruments, and for
their reception a small Observatory w r as then erected at the North-east
corner of the large one. When it was completed the instruments were
arranged and set up by Serjeant Dunn and the head Native Assistant
Keru Luxuman. The possession of these small instruments permit
ted the permanent closing up of the Magnetometer box, “ and,
this,” says Professor Orlebar, “ was very necessary on two accounts*
The Observatory had been very much troubled by a very minute spider,
which makes its way through the smallest opening, and often spins its
web about the magnet bar, which is thus disabled from freely taking up
its position. Further it was necessary to check the vibrations which
seemed to be caused principally by currents of air circulating within,”
The Observatory was now in possession of nearly all the instruments
it yet has, and Professor Orlebar resumed charge of it from Dr. Buist
in April 1845. The following testimony to the labours of Dr. Buist
while in charge of the Observatory, appears in the address delivered by
Sir Roderick Murchison to the Royal Geographical Society at the
Anniversary Meeting of 1861 :—
“ In July 1842 he was placed by Government in charge of the
Bombay Observatory. The appointment was unsalaried, but his duties
were so successfully proceeded with, that in the course of three and a