329. I have not cited one half of RICCIOLUS’s list of potentous
Eclipses; and for the same reason that he declines giving any more of
them than what that list contains: namely, that ’tis most disagreeable
to dwell any longer on such nonsense, and as much as possible to avoid
tiring the reader: the superstition of the antients may be seen by the
few here copied. My author farther says, that there were treatises
written to shew against what regions the malevolent effects of any
particular Eclipse was aimed: and the writers affirmed, that the effects
of an Eclipse of the Sun continued as many years as the Eclipse lasted
hours; and that of the Moon as many months.
[Sidenote: Very fortunate once for CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.]
330. Yet such idle notions were once of no small advantage to
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS; who, in the year 1493, was driven on the island of
_Jamaica_, where he was in the greatest distress for want of provisions,
and was moreover refused any assistance from the inhabitants; on which
he threatened them with a plague, and that in token of it there should
be an Eclipse: which accordingly fell on the day he had foretold, and so
terrified the Barbarians, that they strove who should be first in
bringing him all sorts of provisions; throwing them at his feet, and
imploring his forgiveness. RICCIOLUS’s _Almagest_, Vol. I. 1. v. c. ii.
[Sidenote: Why there are more visible Eclipses of the Moon than of the
Sun.]
331. Eclipses of the Sun are more frequent than of the Moon, because the
Sun’s ecliptic limits are greater than the Moon’s § 317: yet we have
more visible Eclipses of the Moon than of the Sun, because Eclipses of
the Moon are seen from all parts of that Hemisphere of the Earth which
is next her, and equally great to each of these parts; but the Sun’s
Eclipses are visible only to that small portion of the Hemisphere next
him whereon the Moon’s shadow falls; as shall be explained by and by at
large.
[Sidenote: Fig. I.
Total and annular Eclipses of the Sun.