ASIA. 



ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA. 



ASIA. According to the latest accounts the 

 area of Asia was 17,300,000 square miles, and 

 the population ahout 798,900,000.* 



The conquest of Khokan by the Eussians, 

 which had been begun in 1875, was completed 

 in 1876 (see KHOKAN). This added another 

 large tract of land to the Russian dominions, 

 and brought it another step nearer to British 

 India, its great rival in Asiatic politics. The 

 progress of Russia made Afghanistan to a 

 higher degree than ever before the battle-field 

 between its own and British diplomacy. The 

 results of the special embassies which both 

 powers in the course of the year sent to Af- 

 ghanistan were not known in December (see 

 AFGHANISTAN). In another country of Central 

 Asia, Beloochistan, the English Government, 

 by a successful intervention, greatly strength- 

 ened its influence, and reopened the Bolan 

 Pass, one of the chief roads of communication 

 between British India and its western neigh- 

 bors (see BELOOOHISTAN). Throughout Central 

 Asia the excitement visibly increased, and the 

 final result of the rival policies of Russia and 

 England is awaited with intense suspense. 

 The aggressive attitude which Russia pursued 

 in regard to Turkey disposed the Moham- 

 medan population throughout Asia favorably 

 toward England. 



The Prince of Wales continued his journey 

 through India during the early part of the 

 year, returning home in March. The Viceroy 

 of India, Lord Northbrook, resigned in the 

 early part of the year, and was succeeded by 

 Lord Lytton. The difficulty wu,h the natives 

 on the Malay Peninsula continued during the 

 early part of the year. Disturbances and na- 

 tive rebellions were also reported from various 

 parts of the country (see INDIA). 



The relations of England to China appeared 

 at one time to assume threatening dimensions, 

 as Chinese authorities in every possible way 

 endeavored to obstruct the investigation of the 

 Margary murder ; but, at last, the Government 

 agreed to the British demand, to pay Mrs. 

 Margary a sum of money, and to open three 

 new ports to foreign trade. The operations of 

 China against the ruler of Kashgaria were re- 

 newed, but, so far as is known, without success. 

 The opening of the island of Hainan to the 

 foreign trade, promised in the treaty of 1862, 

 was finally brought about on April 1, 1876. 

 The name of the new port is Kiungchow. 

 An important step forward in the course of 

 civilization was made in China during the past 

 year, by the opening of the first railroad. A 

 difference arose between the Chinese and Ger- 

 man Governments, on account of the mutiny 

 on board of the German vessel Anna, and the 

 murder of the captain and mate by the muti- 

 neers, with the consent of the Chinese authori- 

 ties. The full demands of the German Gov- 

 ernment were granted (see CHINA). 



* For a detailed account of the area and population of the 

 political and geographical divisions of Asia, see AWNITAI, CY- 

 for 1S75. 



In Japan considerable progress was again 

 made in the work of civilization during the 

 year. A permanent exhibition-building was es- 

 tablished in Tokio. The work on the railroads 

 on the principal islands was actively pushed 

 forward. The difficulties with Corea were 

 settled by a favorable treaty. The exercise 

 of torture was forever abolished (see JAPAN). 



In Persia several expeditions were under- 

 taken against the Kurds and against the Turko- 

 mans of Merv, the latter having committed 

 large depredations on Persian territory (see 

 PERSIA). 



In Siam the King introduced many innova- 

 tions destined to civilize the country (see SIAM). 



In Acheen the war continued during the 

 year, being generally favorable to the Dutch. 

 The abolition of slavery on the west coast of 

 Sumatra completed the extinction of that in- 

 stitution in the Asiatic colonies of European 

 countries (see NETHERLANDS). 



The Spanish Government, in the early part 

 of the year, found itself compelled to fit out 

 an expedition against the pirates of the Soo- 

 loo Islands, which was successful (see SOOLOO). 



The Turkish provinces in Asia, and parts of 

 Persia, India, and Muscat, were visited by the 

 cholera, which was particularly severe in the 

 neighborhood of Bagdad. 



The eastern coast of Bengal was swept by a 

 severe cyclone on October 31st, during which 

 125,000 persons were reported to have perished. 



ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA AND 

 PROGRESS. Veiled Solar Spots. A valu- 

 able memoir on " veiled solar spots," by Mr. 

 L. Trouvelot, of Cambridge, Mass., was pub- 

 lished in the American Journal of Science 

 for March, 1876. The author adopts the 

 view, now generally accepted, that the sun's 

 visible surface the chromosphere is a gas- 

 eous envelope, composed chiefly of incandes- 

 cent hydrogen. The depth of this stratum is 

 found to be ordinarily from 4,000 to 6,000 

 miles; the thickness varying, however, from 

 day to day. The minimum thickness hitherto 

 observed occurred in the summer of 1875. The 

 principal results of Mr. Trouvelot's observa- 

 tions are summed up as follows : 



1. During the year 1875, and especially during the 

 interval from June 10th to August 18th, and to a 

 less degree to September 14th, the chromosphere 

 was notably thinner than usual upon the entire sur- 

 face of the sun. 



2. The granulations were smaller and less nu- 

 merous. 



3. The light-gray colored background seen be- 

 tween the granules was more conspicuous and occu- 

 pied more space than usual. 



4. There are spots, which the author has named 

 " veiled spots," which are seen through the chro- 

 mosphere which is spread over them like a veil. 



5. These veiled spots are true openings of the 

 photosphere, like those of the ordinary spots. 



6. During this period these spots were larger, 

 darker, and more numerous, than the observer had 

 before seen them. 



7. The veiled spots are scattered throughout all 

 latitudes, though more complicated in the regions 

 where the ordinary spots make their appearance. 



