English: The British eclipse expedition - sketch at Bekul

The eclipse of the sun on 12 December 1871 was a total solar eclipse as seen from part of Southern India, and the north of Ceylon. The place of observation selected, on the highest part of the fort of Bekul, in a most commanding position. Bekul is an old fort once belonging to Tippoo Sahib, of Mysore, but probably of older date, close to the sea and quite clear to the east.

There was one moment, indeed, when the terrified people, in their alarm at the mysterious affliction which had befallen the sun, were preparing to kindle a fire of brushwood for a propitiatory sacrifice. This would have caused a smoke fatal to the astronomical observation, but Captain Christie ordered the police to stop the attempted fire-lighting; and the natives obeyed.