A mosaic of 5 \ros~PSPC pointed observations in the Galactic plane
(l∼25∘) reveals X-ray shadows in the 0.5−2.0 keV band cast by
distant molecular clouds. The observed on-cloud and off-cloud X-ray fluxes
indicate that ∼15% and ∼37% of the diffuse X-ray background in this
direction in the \tq~keV and 1.5 keV bands, respectively, originates behind the
molecular gas which is located at ∼3 kpc from the Sun. The implication of
the derived background X-ray flux beyond the absorbing molecular cloud is
consistent with, and lends further support to recent observations of a Galactic
X-ray bulge.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, 2 table