1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 217 



Thirdly, I could distinctly see the roofs and walls of all the bunga- 

 lows in the plain underneath me ; also the general outline of the town, 

 the line of the Canal, and as a 'matter of course, the river beyond 

 the town was clearly discernible ; the landscape in this direction 

 varied in objects from 500 to 2500 yards. 



Fourthly, Before the eclipse, I noted the colours of dark and white 

 cattle grazing in a field immediately below my station and distant 

 about 600 feet in a straight line from that spot. Daring totality, 

 I could still recognise the difference in colour, and also distinguish 

 a large white stone I had remarked in a field about 100 yards 

 beyond the cattle. 



Fifthly, In the middle of the totality, I could recognise the features 

 of human beings up to 20 yards. I believe I could have recognised 

 the features of a white person as far as 30 yards off. 



Only two stars, Regulus and Sirius, were visible. The planets Mars 

 and Venus could also be seen. Hazy clouds everywhere, except when dis- 

 pelled by the sun's rays, prevented numerous stars being seen, which 

 ought to have been visible in the gloom. Still, I must record my opi- 

 nion, that the accounts I have read of the great darkness on the earth 

 during the progress of a total eclipse, are greatly exaggerated, or at 

 all events are not applicable to eclipses under low latitudes, when the 

 great height of the sun throws such a mass of light to be reflected 

 from the uneclipsed portion of the heaven. 



In this case I carefully noticed all the facts I intended to report 

 upon, and did not lose my presence of mind, when recording them in 

 turn. The eclipse, occurring so early in the morning, prevented any 

 appearance of those peculiarities amongst birds and beasts which have 

 been so descanted upon, but had it occurred in the afternoon, I can 

 quite believe in the truth of such facts as the birds roosting, and 

 animals moving towards their folds. 



As a spectacle, nothing can be imagined which is equal or similar 

 to a total eclipse of the sun. The grandeur of the great shadow, is 

 so immediately relieved by the brilliant glory of the surrounding 

 halo — that all sense of awe is lost in admiration of a sight so 

 astonishingly beautiful. The moment of returning light was especially 

 wonderful in its effect and appearance, instantly illuminating the 

 whole landscape with a brilliant pale blue colour. In the 3rd and 4th 



