British Astronomical Association The Indian Eclipse 1898 Report Of The Expeditions Organized By The British Astronomical Association To Observe The Total Solar Eclipse Of 1898 January 22

The circulation of current astrnomical iniormation by a monthly journal and by the memoirs of the various Sections ; the encouragement of a popular inteest in Astronomy by the monthly meetings oaf the Association held not only in London but also at the seats of the Branches —Manchester Glasgow Edinburgh Sydney and Melbourne. [...] It soon became a regular item of the evening's programme to map out the contour of the Light and form estimates of its intensity and we supplemented these by a few observations of the morning branch of the Light before sunrise The voyage down the Red Sea December 24th to 27th was especially memorable. [...] Then as the sun's rim dipped we crossed to the port side and watched the sharply defined outline of the earth's shadow creep upward and obliterate the rose and purple of the eastern sky. [...] The green of the leaves of the trees in the grove that sheltered our tents turned to a dull lead and the blue of the sky was changed into a sombre purple grey. [...] Throughout the dread two minutes of totality we were dimly conscious of an undertone of cries and wailing from the distant village hidden from our sight by the trees and the shout of relief and welcome with which the villagers greeted the return of sunlight was borne to us loud and clear ; and now that the crisis was past the villagers gave themselves up to unrestrained rejoicings.