i8o REMARKS on the 



velocity of the planet being uniform about a certain point, as 

 far from that centre on the one fide, as the earth is on the op- 

 pofite. 



55. Between the ftrufture of the tables of the equations 

 of the fun and moon, and the rules for ufing them, there is 

 not the fame confiflency ; for in both of them, the argument, 

 which we have found to be the eccentric anomaly, is ne- 

 verthelefs treated as the mean. So far as concerns the fun, this 

 leads to nothing irreconcilable with our fuppofition, becaufe the 

 fun's equation being fmall, the difference will be inconfiderable, 

 whether the argument -of that equation be treated as the eccen- 

 tric or the mean anomaly. 



But it is otherwife with refped to the moon, where the dif- 

 ference between confidering the argument of the equation as 

 the mean, or as the eccentric anomaly, is not infenfible. The 

 authority of the precepts, and of the tables, are here oppofed 

 to one another ; and we can decide in favour of the latter, only 

 becaufe it leads to a more accurate determination of the moon's 

 place than the former. It would indeed be an improvement on 

 their metliod of calculation, which the Brahmins might make 

 confiftently with the principles of their own aftronomy, to ex- 

 tend to the moon their rule for finding the equation of the 

 centre for the planets. They would then avoid the palpable 

 error of making the maximum of the moon's equation at the 

 time when her mean anomaly is 90°, and would afcertain her 

 place every where with greater exadlnefs. It is probable that 

 this is the method which they were originally diredted to 

 follow. 



56. From the hypothefis which is thus found to be the bafis 

 of the Indian aftronomy, one of the firft conclufions which pre- 

 fents itfelf, is the exiftence of a remarkable affinity between 

 the fyftem of the Brahmins and that of Ptolemy. In 

 the latter, the fame thing was fuppofed for the five planets, 



that 



