292 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1793. 



learned Brahmins who attended me ; one of whom is professor of astronomy in 

 the new founded college at Benares. They all agreed that this observatory never 

 was used, nor did they think it capable of being used, for any nice observations ; 

 and believe that it was built more for ostentation, than the promotion of useful 

 knowledge. 



a* represents the large quadrant, called in Arabic, kootoop-bede ; in Hindoo, 

 droop, the name of the north polar star. This instrument is built of stone, 

 fixed in mortar, and clamped with iron in a very clumsy manner ; between most 

 of the stones are spaces of -V P''*''^ of an inch. The stile, in its length from 

 north to south, measured 39 feet 64- inches ; the height of the south end, 5 

 feet 44- inches; height of the north end, 22 feet 3 inches. This stile consists 

 of 2 walls 1 14- inches thick, with a flight of 1^ steps between ; and on the outer 

 edge of each of these walls are fixed 2 iron rings. The distance between the 2 

 rings is 5 feet 8-i- inches; from the uppermost to the top, i8 feet 8 inches ; from 

 the lower one to the bottom, 15 feet and -i- an inch ; both sides are nearly alike. 

 The rings are each \ of an inch in thickness, and they are let into the wall 

 between 2 stones ; the holes through which the object is to be viewed are -^ of 

 an inch in diameter, \ of which space, in each, is covered by the projection of 

 the stone. The radius of one of the quadrants, on which the hour lines are 

 marked, from the outer part of the wall of the stile to the inner edge of the 

 arc, is 9 feet and \ of an inch ; that of the other, 9 feet 1 inch. The width of 

 the rim of the quadrants, which are inclined to a line perpendicular to the 

 shadow falling from the gnomon, is 5 feet 10^ inches. The quadrant is divided 

 into 6 gurries, and each gurry into 10 pulls. On the outer wall of the stile, 

 fronting the east, at the height of 10 feet 10 inches from the 

 base, are fixed 2 iron pins, each forming a centre, from 

 which circular lines are drawn, intersecting each other, as in 

 the annexed representation ; with a parallel line drawn under- 

 neath, which has the hour, or gurry and pull lines marked 

 on it. The wall is plastered ; and there are, on other edifices 

 fronting the east, similar lines drawn ; the use of which, I understood, was to 

 ascertain the time of the day. 



B is an equinoctial dial, called gentu-raje. — It is a circular stone, fronting 

 north and south, but inclining towards the south. The diameter of the south 

 face is 2 feet 24 inches, a perpendicular line falling from the top will give 1 foot 

 distance from the bottom of the inclined plane. In the south front of this 

 stands a small stone pillar, distance 3 feet 8 inches ; a line drawn from the centre 

 of this dial to the point on the top of the pillar, will, by its shadow, give the 

 time of the day. On the nadir side of this dial, the stone is 4 feet 7 inches 



* The references are to the plates annexed to Sir R. Barker's account, pi. 3, v. 14. 



