128 
NATURE 
example, the continuity of the coronal spectrum, on the 
one hand, was inconsistent with the observations of 
polarisation of the corona, and on the other hand, led to 
the scarcely admissible conclusion of a corona formed of 
solid or liquid incandescent bodies. Thus the new 
eclipse, which presented a new opportunity of attacking 
this great question, the calculation, of which, it was felt, 
must now be near, excited a general rivalry. 
England took the most considerable shate in these 
observations. The[British Association, the] Royal Society, 
the Royal Astronomical Society, the Indian Government, 
worked harmoniously together. Among the noted men of 
science sent out, we shall mention specially Mr. Norman 
Lockyer, Colonel Tennant, Lieut. Herschel, Mr. Pogson, 
Capt. Fyers, &c. Italy was represented by M. Respighi, 
who was destined to make, on this occasion, some very 
beautiful observations ; Holland by M. Oudemans, &c. 
At the request of the Academy and the Bureau des Longi- 
tudes, I was appointed by the French Government to 
represent France. It was a glorious.charge for me, but 
at the same time a heavy one, which made ine regret 
that circumstances did not permit of My having any French 
rivals. 
The voyage being decided, it remaitied for ie to settle 
the plan of my observations, the plan on Which to set 
about to choose instruments, aid to chodse the place 
of observation, These points were of prime import- 
ance. 
With regard to the plan of investigation, I knew very 
well that, coming after sé matty able ten, I could Hot 
hope to solve the problem by sitiply adding to the huine- 
rous observations already made, 4 few similat obsetva- 
tions. It was necessary to study the collectish 6f kioWh 
facts, to fix the obscure or contradictory poilts, ald td 
secuwe a number of rapid observations (thé tStality ve 
last only about two minutes in India) Which shoul 
enable us to correct what was inaccutate, t6 cdtiplete 
what was insufficient, arid to form, aldig With previolls 
observations, a collection of data from Which té dedtice 
the true nature of the phehuimenon, Fot exatiple, I had 
no doubt, in spite of contrary observations, that the spec 
trum of the corona was not really discoHHANGUS, was 
persuaded that it must present, as a domitaht chatactel 
istic, that of a spectriim of gas, and I found aii explanation 
of the contrary appearaiices recérded in the fecbléehess OF 
the light of the corona which did Kot admit spectra ts be 
obtained, sufficiently luminous for discerning their true 
constitution. Thus, my intention was to bring my efforts 
to bear upon this chief point, to Some extent the knot of 
the problem. The point was to obtain a spectrim much 
more luminous than those of my predecessors. For this 
purpose I constructed a special telescope having a Mitror 
37 centimetres in diameter, and a focus of 143, which 
gave spectra about 16 times tnore lutminous than those of 
an ordinary astronomical telescope. 
I attached also great importatice td seeing the cordHd 
at the same time as I analysed its light. A special 
arrangement of the finder enabled me to attain this end. 
Finally, a polarising telescope placed upon the large 
telescope enabled me to join the polariscopic indications 
to the other data, and to judge of their agreement. Such 
were my instrumental arrangements. 
The choice of a station was of no less importance. 
At the point at which we had arrived, our investigations 
bore upon phenomena so delicate that a sky was required 
of absolute purity, if I may be permitted the expression. 
Let us say a few words as to where I sought to realise 
_ this second condition. 
The eclipse was to be total in the south of Hindostan, 
at Ceylon, Java, and Australia. Australia was too far 
away. Java is, in December, subject to the rainy mon- 
soon, There yet remained India and Ceylon, which 
represented for the line of totality a very considerable 
exentt, and offered a very great variety of stations from 
- * There is a ie 4 from Magis te the Malabat boagt: 1 rotia ft ating 
which to choose. To make this choice, I resolved not to 
trust to the general indications which we possess in. 
Europe as to the climate of India, but to set out early, to 
visit all the stations, and to decide only after visiting the 
places, and collecting information on the spot. 
I was at Ceylon by the beginning of November, nearly 
six weeks before the time of the eclipse, which would 
take place on December 12. On this island I was greatly 
assisted by the families Laggard and Ferguson, to whom I 
here beg to express mythanks. The information gathered 
in the north of the island, where the phenomenon would 
take place, was not so satisfactory as I desired, and it 
was agreed to seek for better fortune on the codst of 
Malabar, I then left Ceylon for Malabar, doubling Cape 
Comorin. On my way I made some magnetic determi- 
nations, and I had the good fortune to find that the 
magnetic equator, for the dip, passes quite close to Cochin. 
It was at Telecherry, an English post situated near the 
line of totality and the French colony of Mahé, that we 
disembarked. 1 was received by M. Baudry, a French 
merchant, who gave me a most gracious welcome and 
the most active assistafice. Mahé was very valuable to 
me; our governor, M. Liotant, proctired for me inter- 
goer who spoke Fretich and the dialects of the districts 
was to traverse. 
I had, meantime, to chdose between the coast proper, 
the plain, and the stations of the Ghauts and the Neil- 
gherries. As the eclipse was drawing near I could not 
think of sojourning at each station to make a lengthened 
itvestigation. I decided to utilise the telegraph and the 
railivay * for making a simultaneous inquiry as to these 
statioiis. M. Baudry, whom I had instructed in observa- 
tidXs td iiiake every morning at the hour of the eclipse 
Gi the pilrity of the atmosphere at the coast, sent me 
thesé every day by telegraph. I had a similar station on 
the plait, The baggage had been taken to Coimbatoor, 
at the cette of the railway, ready to be conveyed speedily 
to rt statioh selected. I myself visited the Neilgherries, 
atid to pail tite, I surveyed these mountains by utilising 
the | ig t. The mass of information thus collected indi- 
cated the great superiority of the Neilgherries. A very 
careful iivestigation of this tassive mountain-range 
{hited i€ to locate my station it the horth-west, where 
d ji fact much finer weather than in Dodabetta, one 
of the highest peaks, where Coloitel Tennant and Lieu- 
eHaht Herschel were afterwards established. 
It was upon a mountain near Shodlor, an Indian village, 
lat. 11° 27’ 8" N., long. 74° 22’ 5" E. of Paris, that I fixed 
my observatory. The ihstrutments were forwarded from 
Coimbatoor (at the foot of the Neilghetries) to Ootama- 
cund in ox waggohs: Frotii Ootamactind to Shoolor the 
country consisted only of miouiitaii And forest, without 
carriage roads, and tlie cases had to be carried on men’s 
shoulders, the tiany difficlilties attetiding which were 
happily overcome. “Three days Before the eclipse the 
observatory was erected, the fhsttiliieht in place and 
ready for observation, 
The observation at Shoolor was favoured by a sky of 
wonderful purity. As I have already indicated, my plan 
was to examine the corona from the triple point of view 
of its figure, its spectrum, and its phenomena of polari- 
sation. i ’ 
I first examined the corona in the telescope; the pheno- 
menon was seen jn all its splendour. The general form 
was that of a curvilinear square (cav7é curviligne), of which 
the outlines were irregular, but clearly dented, _ At its 
greatest height, the corona exterided to about 14’ or 16’ 
from the lunar limb, and only to about half that distance 
at its narrowest parts. No diagoHal was if the direction 
of the sdlar equator, All around the limb of the imoon 
were seen trains of light which united tdwatds the highest 
parts of the corona, and which gave to the ehtire phetio- 
follow thé direction of the Ie 
ronet 
[Kune 12, 1893 
Ee 
