34 THE INDIAN ECLIPSE, 1898. 



observation was of course out of the question ; but to the credit 

 of our party be it said that scarce a member failed to put in an 

 appearance on the boat-deck in the small hours of the morning 

 and watch the black shadow eating its way into a moon that 

 shone with almost blinding brilliance. 



We flattered ourselves, and not without reason, that the 

 leaven of fifteen members of an eclipse party imparted a dis- 

 tinctly astronomical tone to the whole of the passengers of the 

 Egypt. A spirit for sky-gazing animated the entire ship, and 

 certain astronomical literature with which both Mr. Gibbs and 

 myself were provided was eagerly devoured by passengers of 

 both saloons. Indeed, I believe that Mr. Gibbs had considerable 

 difficulty in reclaiming a copy of Mrs. Todd's Total Eclipses at 

 the end of the voyage, into so many different hands had it passed. 

 This general interest in our mission had also the happy effect 

 of procuring us some valuable aid from several Anglo-Indians 

 among the passengers. Specially were we indebted to Mr. H. B. 

 Beames, of Calcutta, whose knowledge of India, and particularly 

 of the district we were bound for, enabled him to give us most 

 useful information and advice ; while from Mr. W. Sargeaunt, 

 of the S.M. Railway, we gleaned invaluable hints relative to the 

 natives and customs of a land we were all visiting for the first 

 time. Both these gentlemen were good enough to attend some 

 of the many meetings held to discuss our future arrangements. 



We woke up on Friday morning, January 14th, to find our 

 boat slowed down and creeping in with the tide into Bombay, 

 and then it was that we woke also to the reality of the work 

 before us. It wanted but eight days to the eclipse ; yet we did 

 not know if any provision was being made for us, nor were we 

 even certain of our destination. We simply knew that our 

 party was to muster on the shadow track at some point to be 

 determined by circumstances, and by the facilities offered by 

 our chosen line of rail, but wilich, at any rate, could not be less 

 than a thousand miles inland. But further than that our general 

 instructions availed us nothing. Indeed, the suggestion originally 

 made to us that we should take up our quarters at Benares or 

 Allahabad, and go down to some observing station on the morning 

 of the eclipse, appeared to me all along a most doubtful pro- 

 ceeding, and, as will be shown, one which would have proved a 

 sheer impossibility. So firmly convinced was I myself of the 

 necessity of trying to run a camp, at all hazards, that before 

 leaving home I had written round to our whole party asking 

 who would be prepared to join in the venture. About one-half 

 only gave in their names ; but so greatly had enthusiasm been 

 stimulated during the voyage that now, at the end of it, every 

 member of our expedition was keen for any sort of real cam- 

 paigning experience, if it were only possible in any way to place 

 ourselves under canvas. 



