, 1898-02-23

'N'N 1'' 49,
The following is II statement Of the results
obtained by the observers:
The general Shape of the suns corona was
like that seen in the eclipscs of 1886 and
1896. The CORONA extended over two d anne
ters from the sun. and its greatest extent
was along the suns equator. Photograph
OF the corona were obtained Ivy Mis-. Mnunder
Onn scale Of 4 Din to the suns diameter. and
also on u seal" Of LION t. =. t coIonaI extern.
slons. The spectrum Of The chromosphere
an prominences was Sucrussfl ~ observed
with al op'Ia glass, fit j with q direct
vision prism il one Of the eve pieces. Tires
photographs of the corona we've oltnine ell by
Mr.. Thwaites on q scale OF 7-lOin to the
suns diameter. Mr.. 1hWHIIes also secured
photographs Of the corona on a scale Of
l-lOln to the SUMS diane ter. Good spectrum
photographs were obtnile ed by Nj. Evershed.
The spectrum bIaslI" was pholographed
by the same obs rver with a pIismatic Gamers,
and With a Gin telescope. All in the camp
here are we'll.
observations Of tn" eclipse were also made
by a party from HE College OF Science, Poona.
under the direction Of Professor *. d. Nae.
gamvaIa, and by a parry from the Lick
Observatory, Mount Hamilton, US.A., under
the direction of Professor w. w. Campbell.
Their report is the same as that Of Mr..
Maunder's party.
They report that the sky was extremely
Cloar and TINT their observations were very
successful. They found the light during the
middle of totally to be greater than that of
full moon. The general shape of the corona
was similar to that observed in 1886 and
1896. it extended to II distance Of nearly
two diameteTs from the sun ~ d it's greatest
extension was along the SUMS equator.
The Rev. }. NJ. Bacon reports that his
party also observed the eclipse under yely
favourable conditions. The light durnr
the middle Of totality was greater than tia.
from the full moon.-Reuttr.
Bombay, Sunday.
SO far as Bombay IS concerned the result
of the eclipse has not quite realised general
expectations. As the eclipse reached it's
zenith the temperature fell rapidly and the
atmosphere became peIcoptibly chilly. Quite
0n earth smell pei valed the air. Que
naturally expected to see stars peep out and
twinkle in semidukuess. Tut the scene
here w8] too bright for that. ana rather
Tesembled landscape under wintry English
sun.
q 0ws few from tree to tree or circled in
flights while spaIrow> twittered preparatory to
loosling Kites descended and cocks crowed.
At the moment Of totality the conditions
were favourable at Sir Norman Lockyer'a
camp at Vizladrug, and the same was tho
case ut Professor Camphell's camp at Jeur.
The sun was gradually blotted out, and a
marvellous corona Of pale silver blue ap-
peared.
The duration Of t%otality was two minutes.
Stars sprang out, and all was deadly still.
Native astrOlogers had prophesied ali kinds
Of calamities, including a tidal wavo at
Bombay, and some foretold a great disaster q
week hence. Religious Hindus sat down
and counted their beads at the moment Of
contact, at the same time reciting mantras,
or prayers and hymns. Here and there on
the foreshOre sto TX Parseee, Zend-Avasta in
hand, and with their faces turned towards
the sun. The Brnhmin priests, who are ever
ready to receive aims. ceased their %solicita-
tions during the eclipse. Beggans, however.
swalmed nearly everywhere, and the Hindu
streets were alive with the cry EDedan suty
Girhun meaning Give aims f,r the recovery
Of the sun from the jaws of the dragon Rahu."
The large gatherings which usually assem-
BILE along Back Bay on the occasion Of eclip:
ses, for the purpose of bathing in the sea,
we're prohibited by the Plague Committee.
The few bathers to be seen tied Dnrab grass
to their clothes, and put some Of it into
pickles and preserves, to ensure that they
should not be affected By the eClibse Thar@