Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Zambezi Falls

Ballendre was not seriously injured, the Bushmans massaged his shoulders with some grass with great proficiency, and the Helsinki Astronomer was able to get back on the road, backing him with victory.But that enthusiasm soon wanes, and he's in no time the dedicated scientist who lives only in the digital world, with one record book in his hands, and another with a copy of all his calculations, just as a precaution. , he should be placed in Amory's safekeeping--Balendre was happy to do so. The work went on, the triangulation was going fast and well, and now it was just a matter of finding a plain that was good for establishing the base.

On April 1, the team needed to cross a vast swamp area, and the trip was delayed.On this damp plain, there are many ponds connected one by one, and the water in the ponds emits a foul smell.Colonel Everett and his companions accelerated the triangulation, eager to get out of this filthy area. The team is in good shape, with the best spirit at their disposal.Amory and Zorn were delighted to see that the most perfect rapport existed between the two leaders.The two leaders seemed to have forgotten that an international dispute had torn them apart. "My dear William," Zorn said to his young friend one day, "I hope that when we return to Europe we shall find peace between England and Russia so that we shall have the same power as here in Africa." is a friend."

"I think as you do, my dear friend," replied Amory, "that modern warfare does not last long, and after a battle or two a treaty is signed. This ill-fated war has been going on for a year now. Now, like you, I hope that when I return to Europe, peace will be concluded between the two countries." "But your wish, William, isn't it to return to Cape Town?" Zorn asked, "The Observatory does not urgently ask you to go back, I hope you can come to Russia to bring glory to our Kyiv Observatory!" "Yes, my friend," replied Amory, "I will return to Europe with you, and I will not return to Africa without passing through Russia. But you will visit me at Cape Town some day, Isn't it true? You will get lost in the beautiful constellations of the Southern Hemisphere, what a rich and varied sky you will see, and what joy you will draw from it! But not with your hands, but with your eyes. Smell , if you will, together we will divide the Sun Centauri in two! I promise you, I will not do it without you."

"A deal? William." "It's settled, Michelle. I've reserved time for you, and as compensation, I'm going to Kyiv to calculate one of your nebulae." Brave young man!As if the sky belonged to them!Indeed, who would it have belonged to, if not to these keen scientists who had seen its depths? "But anyway," Zorn went on, "the war must end." "Yes, Michel. A battle with a cannon as a weapon will last less than a quarrel with the stars! Russia and England will settle before Colonel Everett and Strux." "After all they've been through together, don't you believe in their sincere reconciliation?" Zorn asked.

"I don't believe it," replied Amory. "Just think of it, the rivalry of scientists, and eminent scientists at that!" "Then let us not be ostentatious, my dear William," replied Zorn, "we will always be good friends!" Eleven days had elapsed since the "baboon incident," when the expedition came not far from Zambezi Falls, and saw a plain for many miles in circumference, a land well suited for direct measurements of the base.At the edge of the plain sat a village of only a few thatched huts, populated at most by a score of harmless natives, who welcomed the Europeans warmly.This was fortunate for the colonel's contingent, for without four-wheelers, tents, or even camp materials, they had little means of establishing settlements.However, the measurement of the bottom edge lasts for a month, which they can only spend in the open air under the leaves.

The scientific committees then lived in huts which suited them well, and the scientists became easy people to please.The only thing that worries them is: the inspection of the previous work.This test is done by direct measurement of the new base, the last side of the last triangle.In fact, according to calculations, the length of this side has been accurately determined, and the closer the directly measured value is to the calculated value, the more perfect the determination of the meridian can be. Astronomers immediately set to work to start measuring.Supports and platinum rulers were successively laid out on the level ground, and all care was taken for the hem of the foundation, taking into account all atmospheric conditions, temperature variations, levelness of instruments, etc.In short, nothing can be overlooked in this final measurement.Scientists live only in this one thing.

The work, which began on April 10 and ended on May 15, took five weeks, and Barendre and Amory calculated the results immediately. Really, the hearts of the scientists were beating hard when the results were announced.What a compensation for their fatigue, for their hardship, if the full examination of the work could render it irreproachable to future generations! When Nicolas Ballendre and William Amory deduced the known lengths to arcs denoted by mean sea level and 61°F (16°11′°C), they presented the following figures to their colleagues before: The new hem has been tested... 5075t, 25

Derived from the whole series of triangles and bases... 5075.11 Gap between calculated and observed... 0t, 14 Only 14/100 Tuise, which means less than 10 French inches, and the two bases are 600 miles apart! When the French meridian was done between Dunkirk and Perpignan, the difference between the base of Moran and the base of Perpignan was 11 French inches.The Anglo-Russian Committee has achieved a more outstanding "unity", and under difficult conditions, in the African desert, under various difficulties and dangers, they have completed the most satisfactory work in the field of geodesy so far.

They cheered this amazing result three times, which is unprecedented in the history of science. Now, for this part of the Earth's ellipsoid. How long is the longitude of 1 latitude?According to Ballendre's calculations, it is 57,037 tuises, which is the same as the value obtained by Lakai at the Cape of Good Hope in 1752.A century later, French astronomers and members of the Anglo-Russian committee met on this approximation. As for the value of "meter", it can only be deduced after the results of experiments conducted in the northern hemisphere come out. This value should be 1/10 of 1/4 of the longitude of the earth.According to previous calculations, considering that the earth's flatness is 1/499.15, that 1/4 includes 1 856 meters, so the obtained length is 0t. 513074, or 3 French feet 211.096 French inches, is this number real?Will this be the result of the subsequent work of the Anglo-Russian Committee?

The geodetic work is fully completed, the astronomers have completed their task, and all they have to do now is to follow the route of Dr. Livingstone's second journey, but in the opposite direction from his then, to the mouth of the Zambezi River. . On May 25, after a difficult journey through a river-ridden area, they reached the geographically called Victoria Falls. These magnificent waterfalls bear out their Aboriginal name meaning "deafening smoke".These curtains, a mile wide, rush down from a height twice the height of Niagara Falls, and are crowned with three rainbows, and the torrents rushing from great basalt fissures produce a rolling force equal to the simultaneous burst of twenty tons.

Downstream from the falls, the river becomes calm.The steamboat that had arrived 15 days earlier through the lower Zambezi waited for its passengers.All the people arrived, and all sat in the boat. Two remained ashore—Buchman and Forobel.Morcum was no longer just a faithful guide, but an Englishman, Lord John's friend on the continent.Lord John offered to take Morcombe to Europe, and he would entertain him as long as the latter liked.Morcombe, however, had other promises he insisted upon, for he did not want to break his promise to accompany the intrepid Dr. Livingstone on his second journey down the Zambezi. The Bushman stayed, was well paid for it--a little too much appreciation, he thought,--and was squirmed by those who were so indebted to him.The steamer sailed away into the middle of the river, and Lord John gave his Bushman friend a final wave of good-bye. They traveled down the great African river in a swift steamer, passing through the many villages and towns that dotted its banks, without fatigue or accident.The natives looked with superstitious admiration at the smoking boat propelled across the waters of the Zambezi by invisible machinery, and they did nothing to hinder its progress. The first thing Europeans cared about was to ask the British consuls about the war. The war did not end, and Sevastopol was still resisting the British and French troops. The news was disappointing to those Europeans who were now united around the same scientific interests, yet they were unresponsive and ready to go. An Austrian merchant ship, the Novara, was bound for Suez, and the members of the committee intended to take it. On board the ship, on June 18, Colonel Everett called his colleagues together, and addressed them in a calm tone: "Gentlemen, in 18 months we have lived together, we have passed many trials together, but we have accomplished a business that will be admired by Science Europe. I would also say that this common life should bring us Create unshakable friendships." Strux bowed slightly, but did not answer. "However," continued the colonel, "it is to our great regret that the war between Britain and Russia continues. They continued to fight before Sevastopol until the city fell to us..." "It will not fall into your hands!" said Strux, "though France..." "The future will tell us, sir," said the colonel coldly. "Until the war is over, I think we should regard each other as enemies..." "I was going to make this point to you," said the Brockova astronomer simply. The situation was quickly drawn, and it was under these circumstances that the members of the scientific committee boarded the "Novara". A few days later, when they arrived in Suez, at the moment of parting, William Amery shook the hand of Michel Zorn and said: "We'll be friends forever? Michelle." "Yes, my dear William, always, anyway!"