A VOYAGE TO THE RINGED PLANET. 69 



these rings shone with a yellow light, the dark markings 

 presenting a sepia tint, while the great division between 

 the two rings, instead of being black as we expected, 

 was of a deep brown-purple colour. Somewhat similar, 

 but more richly purple, was the so-called dark ring, 

 except that where it crossed the planet's disc it 

 appeared to shine with a full brown colour. The shape 

 of the globe, and even the figure of certain markings 

 upon it, could be distinctly seen through the dark 

 ring. We even thought that we could trace the shape 

 of the globe through the inner part of the second 

 bright ring, and subsequently we found that we had 

 not been deceived in this respect. 



In order to avoid confusion it will be well that I 

 should omit further reference at present to what in 

 reality occupied no small share of our attention as we 

 approached Saturn's globe. The marvellous aspect of 

 the rings must be described farther on. For the present 

 I shall speak only of the globe of the planet. 



To our amazement we found, as we drew nearer to 

 Saturn, that his whole surface presented a scene of 

 indescribable agitation. The white clouds on the equa- 

 torial belt appeared and changed in shape and vanished 

 with startling rapidity. And the whole of this belt 

 seemed opalescent, the colour and brightness of the 

 different parts varying continuously. These changes 

 had not been noticed by us when we were at a greater 

 distance, because they did not affect the general lustre 

 or colour of the zone, or even of large portions of its 

 extent. But now they were perfectly distinct, and each 



