"HIE firat total eclipse of the sun in the Far East in more than 300 years, an astronomical event of the first magnitude, was observed not only by the few astronomers throughout the city who had made preparations for days in advance, but also by tens of thousands of the foreign and Chinese population here. Roofs and drying stages of houses and the open spaces were all crammed with Chinese using dark-coloured glasses, broken window panes blackened over a candle and other hastily improvised means for observation of the phenomenon.
Many in the Western District had their view obscured by clouds until the period of totality was over. Magnetic, electrical and other observations were made by local. scientists to record variations in atmospheric pressure and temperature, The narrow belt of totality crossed the whole of China from, north-west to south-east.
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