82 



that Jupiter and Mercury were then in the same degree of 

 the ecliptic ; that Mars was distant about 8 degrees, and 

 Saturn 17 ; and it results from thence, that at the time of the 

 date given by the Brahmans to the commencement of the 

 Kaly Youg, they saw those four planets successively disen- 

 gage themselves from the rays of the sun; first Saturn, then 

 Mars, then Jupiter, and then Mercury. These four planets, 

 therefore, showed themselves in conjunction ; and though 

 Venus could not have appeared, yet, as they only speak in 

 general terms, it was natural enough to say there was then 

 a conjunction of the planets. The account given by the 

 Brahmans is confirmed by the testimony of our European 

 tables, which prove it to be the result of a true observation. 

 Monsieur Bailly is of opinion, that their astronomical time 

 is dated from an eclipse of the moon, which appears then 

 to have happened, and that the conjunction of the planets 

 is only mentioned by the way." pp. 224, 225. 



The conjunction of the planets mentioned in the above 

 extract, is admirably elucidated by Olympiodorus in his 

 MS. Scholia on the Gorgias of Plato, as follows : " There 

 are seven spheres, that of the moon, that of the sun, and 

 those of the other planets ; but the inerratic is the eighth 

 sphere. The lunar sphere, therefore, makes a complete 

 revolution more swiftly, for it is accomplished in thirty 

 days. That of the sun is more slow, for it is accomplished 

 in a year. That of Jupiter is still slower, for it is effected 

 in twelve years. And much more that of Saturn, for it is 

 completed in thirty years. The stars, therefore, are not 

 conjoined with each other in their revolutions, except rarely. 

 Thus, for instance, the sphere of Saturn and the sphere of 

 Jupiter are conjoined with each other in their revolutions 

 in sixty years. For if the sphere of Jupiter comes from the 

 same to the same in twelve years, but that of Saturn in 



