6 THE INDIAN ECLIPSE, 1898. 



We did not greet the Southern Cross till we had reached 

 " The Exile's Gate " (Bab-el-mandeb), but it was a morning 

 much to be remembered when we first saw the most celebrated 

 asterism of the nether sky, and with it in Sagittarius the most 

 brilliant regions of the galaxy. Most brilliant of all, queen of 

 the waning night, shone Venus, to be lost in a few minutes in 

 the rays of the rising sun, and not to be again seen until, as if 

 anxious to take his place, she showed herself on the eventful day 

 even before her lord the Sun had completely withdrawn himself 

 behind the curtains of eclipse. 



The Ballaarat had her merits, but speed was not one of 

 them. Most of the vessels of the line would have got us in by 

 the Saturday ; some would have even reached their destination 

 by the Friday ; but we were sufficiently thankful to be landed 

 on the Monday morning, January 3rd. A number of letters 

 were at once delivered to us. Mr. F. S. Bullock, the Chief 

 Commissioner of the "Hyderabad Assigned Districts" that is 

 to say, the province of Berar informed us that he had been 

 asked to make arrangements for our reception at the little 

 village of Talni, and that he had ordered a standing camp of 

 tents to be got ready and furnished. As, however, he would be 

 on duty away from headquarters, he desired us to communicate 

 further with Captain Horsburgh. the Deputy Commissioner for 

 the Amraoti District, in which Talni is situated. A second letter 

 was from Captain Horsburgh, and gave us further information 

 as to the preparations that were being made for us. A third 

 was from Assistant Commissioner Mr. D. 0. Morris, Lieutenant 

 R.A., and told us that he had been personally charged with our 

 reception, and desired that one of our number should come 

 down at once to Talni, select the precise site for our observatories, 

 and see that all was in order. All anxiety was therefore put to 

 rest, as it was evident that every possible pains was being taken 

 to help us, and to secure a suitable and comfortable camp. 



Before we had even landed a gentleman previously unknown 

 to all our party came on board to greet us. Mr. Smith had 

 intended, whilst in India, to visit some friends at Hyderabad ; 

 and the latter being unable to come down to Bombay to meet 

 him at landing, had desired a friend, Col. Groodier Adye, then 

 staying in that city, to represent them. Col. Adye, who we 

 found had the reputation of being one of the most experienced 

 men in India in the knowledge of the native languages and 

 ways, at once began to make himself useful. He took all the 

 troubles connected with our luggage out of our hands. He 

 gathered the numerous boxes together, passed them through 

 the customs, ordered about the coolies, and exercised a firm 

 control over the drivers of the bullock gharries, who seemed at 

 first disposed to be troublesome. He piloted Mr. Thwaites to 

 the Victoria Station, and assisted him in his negociations with 



