The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-20

SYeysias IS 61f STA sxe Complex star OF
sE;ysry psarf-Ike light. with sudden
tssrss' an immense rush OF sunlight bfeSs
ns, the whole fairy vision, and II was
gene IKE : dream. Tie shock o1 return
iag light was 80 sudden and 50 sharp aha-
a watcher who should have declared ;naa
Il was accompanied by a roar IKE shan-
der would almost have received Gre
dsnce.
For us at Talni the eclipse lasted eight
seconds short Of two TnaGuses-four sec
onds less than we had expected has
during that short two minutes what
number OF impressions We were rseeivsns
OYER ard above tne attention which had
10 be given 10 the actual Work on whseh
We were engaged
/ made tive exposures with my wide
angle lense Il sixth at the instant or the
return of the light. and seventh on the
portrait phase for orientation purposes
Ny bubanti had watched the eclipse with
q prisnatjc binoeuiar anc given the sig
nal fer me 10 begin operations with my
camera.
A busy afternoon followed. There were
photographs 10 develop. kilograms TO
send and receive. and reports TO write.
and il was 4 very tired juhi.ant party
that met at dinner in the r1esS-tent nj
haif-past eight Dinner was scarcely over
when We were invited out TO witness and
take part in the villagers reioicingS
These consisted of an illumInation--very
pretty and effectiye-of long lines of ma
tive lamps and a liberal exhibition OF
fireworks. The fireworks were ali OF ma
tive make. and resemblei what school
boys cal a "iower-pot.'' but many OF
them being Of considerable size. and
throwing fountain of golden rain fairly
high, by combining and crossing them in
pairs and threes and fonrs. some very
effective arrangements were made, AMI
the whole did the utmost credit to the
organizers. the Tashildar of the district.
and the headmen OF the villages for far
round. To conclude fhe ceremony. the
headrnen came forward and decorated the
party with gsriands Of flowers, and made
the usual Offering OF betel-nut. To these
and other compliments Mr. Smith. as the
senior member of the party. replied
thanking those present for their cour-
teSy and readiness 10 help, and remind
ing them Of the blessings OF peace which
they enjoyed under the present govern
ment. The village fort just before them
ruined because no longer needed as in
Old times for protection from marauders
might remind them how much safer
they were now than then.
So passed the day Of the eclipse men,
.orahe day 10 all who took part in II.
Perfect weather. perfect arrange ments
hosts. magnificent eclipse, and this in
teresting piece ne native ceremony 10
conclude. | had heard much before we
came out from England of how things
were done in indii." bur 10 actually watch
the processes gave q very keen and adj
dilional interest 10 the expedition It was
at the very eleventh hour, almost the
twelfth. that we were handed over from
the Bombay presidency. where all our ar
engagements had at first been made, and
were commended to the care of the resi-
dent ~ the court of the NiZam OF Hyder-
abad. Mr.. T. c, Chicheie- Powder, &. ).
l.. and Of Mr.. F. $. Bullock. G.. |. E.
commissioners az the Hyderabad assigned
districts. just within the borders Of which
the little Village of TalnI stands. Blu:
though thus asked only al the very last
moment 10 help. that help could not pos
sihly have been more thorough and COM
pleis. Capt. Horsburgh, deputy commits
sioner or the Amraou district. directed
Lieut. u. O. Morris. his assistant COM
missioner, 10 personally see that We
lacked for nothing, and that instruction
was faithfully carried out both In the
spirit and the letter. The resident and
commissioner both paid us visit before
the eclipse that they might see that
everything necessary had been done for
us. and that they might themselves share
in the spectacle OF the day: and It was an
additional interest TO us TO see our little
camp develop as If by magic into far
spreading canvas village. One night our
eight or niue tents stood alone the next
day they were Joined by score OF 9th
ers: two days later and they were gone
and We were also alone again. To make
our little "bunderbust' probably seemed
n very trivial thing 20 men accustomed 10
vastly larger undertakings, but orr graf
irude Is none the les. due 20 them. and
tue promp;itude. precision and forethought
with which 1t was carried through en-
sbled us TO appreciate better than any
amount Of description gould do wha.
the British administration means N In
d.a