He carried out survey work in Palestine in 1872–1874, latterly in conjunction with Lt Kitchener, later Lord Kitchener, whom he had met at school, and was seconded to the Palestine Exploration Fund from 1875 to 1878 and again in 1881 and 1882, when he was promoted captain.
Han foretog opmålingsarbejder i Palæstina i 1872–1874, sammen med løjtnant Kitchener, den senere Lord Kitchener, som han havde lært at kende i skolen, og var udlånt til Palestine Exploration Fund fra 1875 til 1878 og igen i 1881 og 1882, hvor han blev forfremmet til kaptajn.