Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
created as much hardship in France and Spain as did the denial of continental trade
to Britain. Massive conscription of local people, burdensome taxation to support the
war effort, brutal occupation by the French armies, as well as hunger and poverty
brought unrest to Spain as the rule of law and order broke down (also called the
“Spanish Ulcer”).
Arago had to penetrate into the remoter countryside of Spain to seek out suitable
mountaintops as triangulation points and such areas were controlled by brigands.
His escort of national guards fought a battle to gain him the appropriate access to
Cullera and as a result the brigands were dispersed into the countryside. Arago had
to work overnight at the station and had a cabin built which he shared with his
servant. He was sheltering there during a stormy, rainy night when there was a
knock at the door; asked to identify himself the man claimed to be a customs
officer. The servant opened the door and there entered “a magnificent man, armed
to the teeth.” Arago offered him hospitality and shelter from the weather. They all
settled down to sleep overnight. On waking and chatting to the “customs officer” at
breakfast time, Arago saw two more people approaching the cabin to pay a visit, as
did the stranger, his eyes flashing as he recognized the mayor (
alcaid
) of Cullera
and his principal constable (
alguazil
). This “customs officer” did not stay to greet
them, but ran off, springing from rock to rock like a gazelle. He was the leader of the
bandits, and according to Arago's account had chosen not to shoot at his two most
cruel enemies out of gratitude for Arago's shelter and food.
Some days after this, Arago received another visit from the “customs officer”
and allowed him shelter and sleep a second time. Arago's servant, an ex-soldier,
was inclined to kill the visitor but Arago restrained him: “We are not discharging
the duties of the police,” explained Arago, “and if we are known to have harmed
this man his followers would make our work impossible.” In the morning, Arago
told the bandit chief that he knew who he was and asked if they had anything to fear
from the bandits. He candidly replied that they realized that Arago would not carry
money to such a remote place and that it would bring too much trouble from the
Spanish authorities if a French official under state protection was hurt. He added
his gratitude for Arago's hospitality and again Arago was left unharmed and
unrobbed. But on leaving the station, Arago encountered a second gang of bandits
(not parties to any favorable understanding about his position) and was forced to
take refuge, mules and all, in the kitchen of a farmhouse listening in the dark to the
voices of the gang searching for him nearby.
Working their way still further south, Arago and Biot created a triangulation sta-
tion on the mountain of Mongo near San Antonio, from where they were able to link
to Formentera, one of the smaller Balearic Islands at nearly 100 km distance. Mongo
dropped steeply on three sides to the sea and access there was difficult. They were
able to gain the summit with the help of a party of sailors who built a shelter there,
but winter was well advanced and the February cold at the summit was hard to bear.
Both men traveled to the islands in March 1807, but some of their measurements
were frustrated by instrumental failures when the Borda repeating circle broke. They
returned to the Spanish mainland and Biot then returned to Paris carrying the repeating
circle for repairs. Arago used the remaining working equipment to repeat measurements
