| RefNo | HSF/2/1/41 |
| Previous numbers | 32.8.26 and 32.8.26A |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from J [John] Herschel, Camp Dajel T.S. nr. D.G. [Dera Gazi] Khan , to 'Dearest Bella' [Isabella Herschel] |
| Creator | Herschel; John (1837-1921); British army officer and astronomer |
| Date | 19 February 1860 |
| Description | He writes because it is two or three weeks since he did. They have had bad luck and have done little work. Rain and wind have prevented them from seeing signals, but the hot weather is beginning. She may not have received a map of the Derajat that he sent to Willy [William James Herschel], but he is now at a small town near the foot of the hills. His last camp was at Jampore, and he describes the town there and its people in uncomplimentary terms. Europeans are rarely seen, 'However one gets used to being stared at'. He is now in a perfect desert and he describes the scenery looking towards the hills, 'as flat as a billiard table and nearly as smooth and hard'. A great part of it near the river is gradually being recalimed and brought under cultivation. Generally the ground is of clay with salt - he thinks sulphate of soda - and mirage is very common, interfering with observations. Riding yesterday, he saw the town of Dajel, with every part drawn out in a perpendicular direction. He relates how [James Palladio] Basevi saw an inverted tower through the telescope and gives two sketches to illustrate the phenomenon. When viewing lamps at night they get what they term a 'caterpillar lamp', when the image appears 'like a nasty wriggling caterpillar crawling constantly up the wire and never getting much higher', again, with a sketch. He hopes they are not bored at home by this, but he has little else to tell. John gets no letters, few newspapers and not many books. He asks her to direct mail care of the Postmaster at Rawalpindi. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7955 | Herschel; John (1837 - 1921); Colonel; military engineer, surveyor and astronomer | 1837 - 1921 |