Oriental Literature. 81 



The Astronomy and Chronology of Hindostan 

 engaged much of the attention of oriental scho- 

 lars, especially towards the close of the century 

 under consideration. The honour is due to the 

 French of having commenced this inquiry in a re- 

 gular and scientific manner. M. Le Gentil first 

 brought to light, from the recesses of their tem- 

 ples, with any tolerable accuracy, the Astronomy 

 of the Brahmans. Since he wrote, the inquiry has 

 been pursued more fully and ingeniously by his 

 countryman, M. Bailly/ by Sir William Jones, 

 who has contributed to the illustration of almost 

 every part of oriental literature and science; and 

 by Mr. Playfair, 7 of the University of Edin- 

 burgh; and still more recently by Mr. Samuel 

 Davis, Mr. John Bentle y, and others, whose valu- 

 able communications appear in the Asiatic Re- 

 searches. To these may be added the chronolo- 

 gical inquiries of Mr. Marsden and Mr. Pa- 

 terson. The result of all which is the most com- 

 plete proof, that the extravagant and ridiculous 

 claims made by the Brahmans, concerning the 

 antiquity of their nation and their sciences/ are 

 wholly destitute of foundation. Indeed, the latest 

 inquiries afford satisfactory evidence not only that 

 -no antiquity inconsistent with the Mosaic chrono- 

 logy can be claimed by them ; but that the dates of 

 their most ancient books and records are far more 

 recent than even the friends of the scripture his- 

 tory at first supposed. 



The Geography of India received much elucida- 



© SccLe Voyagt dans h Mers de flnde, 8cc. par M. Le Gentil. I"j6g. 

 p Traite de V Astronomie Indienne ct Orientate. I7&7* 

 g See Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. ii. p. t$S m 

 r In all the computations of the Brahmans the most enormous extrava- 

 gance appears. They suppose the period which has elapsed since the: 

 creation to be more than seven millions of years ! In the same spirit of bound- 

 less absurdity, they make the circumference of the earth to be 500,000,000 

 yojanas, or 3,45 6,000,000 British miles ; and the height of many moun- 

 tains to be 100 yojanas t or 491 British miles ! 

 VOL. II. M 



