250 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO i7Q2. 



Three Hindoo y/lmunocs belonging to Charles IVilkins, Esq. By Henry 

 Cavendish, Esq. p. 383. 



Though we have received much information concerning the astronomy of the 

 Hindoos, we know but little of their civil year, and its divisions; and what ac- 

 counts of it we have received vary much from each other, owing partly to dif- 

 ferent methods being used in different parts of India. As it occurred, that the 

 best way by which a person in Europe could clear up the difficulties in this sub- 

 ject, would be to examine the patras, or almanacs, published by the Hindoo 

 themselves, Mr. C. applied to Mr. Wilkins, well known for his skill in the 

 Sanskreet language, who was so good as to lend three such, and assist in finding 

 out their meaning. 



One of them was procured by Mr. Wilkins at Benares, and is computed for 

 that place. The 2d came from Tanna, in the island of Salsette, near Bombay; 

 but it appears to be the copy of a Benares patra, as it is disposed in the same 

 form as the first, and is adapted to the same latitude and longitude. The 3d is 

 computed for Nadeea, a town of Bengal, about 50 miles n. of Calcutta, almost 

 as noted for learned men as Benares, and much frequented by students from the 

 coast of Coromandel. The language of all the 3 is a corrupt Sanskreet; but the 

 last is written in the common Bengal character. 



It appears from these almanacs that the civil year is regulated very differently 

 in different parts of India: but before speaking of this year, it will be proper to 

 employ a few words on the astronomical, which in all parts serves to regulate the 

 civil year. The astronomical year begins at the instant when the sun comes to 

 the first point of the Hindoo zodiac. In the present year, 1792, it began, ac- 

 cording to the principles delivered in the Surya Siddhanta*, on April Q, at 11^ 

 lA"^ after midnight of their first meridian, which is about 41"^ of time west of 

 Calcutta; but according to Mr. Gentil's account of the Indian astronomy, it 

 began 3*' 24"* earlier. As this year however is longer than ours, its commence- 

 ment falls continually later in respect of the Julian year by 50"" 1& in 4 years. 

 This year is divided into 12 months, each of which corresponds to the time of 

 the sun's stay in some sign, so that they are of different lengths, and seldom 

 begin at the beginning of a day. The civil day, in all parts of India, begins at 

 sun-rise, and is divided into 6o parts, called dandas, which are again divided into 

 6o palas. The only parts of the Benares patras which are of any material use 

 for our purpose, are the names of the months which are set down at the top of 

 each page, and the first 3 columns, the first of which contains the day of the 

 month, according to the civil account, the next the day of the week, and the 3d 

 the time at which the lunar teethee ends; but as many may like to be informed of 



• See an account of tliis in the 2d volume of the Asiatic Researches. — Orig. 



