170 On the Astronomy of the Orientals. 
Indian Time reduced. 
Days. Hours. Min. Sec. 
79 x 365 days = 6935 0 0 0 
19 x 6 hours= 4 18 0 0 
19 x 12 min. = 0 3 48 0 
19x 99sec. = 0 0 2 51 
aoe — —— 
Indian time .. 6939 21 50 51 
Ferguson’s Tables, p. 190, 6939 20 50 354 
rd — eae _ 
Difference Sage 2. | oe 155 
Hence the difference between the Indian and European is 54 
min. 15 sec. in 19 sidereal years. 
Indian Lunar Years reduced. 
Days. Hours. Min. Sec. 
19 x 354 days = 6726 0 19) 0 
19 x S8hours= ~ 6 8 0 0 
19 x 48 min. = 0 15 12 0 
19 x 24sec. = OF 0 ve 36 
6732 03 |< GO waG 
177 45) ete 
29 12 44 9 
19 x 12 lenations 
6 lunations 
1 lunation 
oil 
235 lunations = 6939 16 OH 50 
Do, by English tables = 639 16 26 ol 
Difference ae he ose 59 
‘The difference between 235 lunations composing. the lunar 
cycle of 19 years by both reckonings less than one minute! This 
statement I hope is accurate so far as my documents go; and 
considering the supposed ignorance of the Eastern astronomers 
in the elements of true science, their want of necessary and ac- 
curate mathematical instruments, and the skill for the more pro- 
found and elaborate calculations of our European and justly fa- 
mops practitioners, their determination on the exact measures 
of the sidereal and Junar year is truly admirable, and deserving 
our highest commendation. . 
It remains to inquire how such extraordinary agreement in 
calculations so intricate, and by observers so remotely distant, 
and unconnected, should coincide iu the instances above given. 
Hipparchus, who flourished about 140 years before the Chris- 
tian era, first discovered the sidereal year to exceed the solar or 
tropical year; and thence concluded, that the fixed stars had a 
slow 
