VOL. LXXXIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 2Q3 



diameter ; on the centre of which is a small iron stile, with a hole in it, per- 

 pendicular to its plane ; and in the perpendicular line of the chord are placed 2 

 small irons. A line passing through the hole in the stile, and each end applied 

 to the fore-mentioned irons, gives a shadow which denotes the hour, &c. 



c is a brass circle in the line of the equator, facing north and south. It has a 

 moveable index, turning on a pivot in the centre ; the circle is divided into 36o 

 degrees, or unse, subdivided again into 6o', and again into 6", and into ith. 

 This instrument is called cund-brit, or cranti-brit, but I could not learn the 

 use of it. 



D is a double circular wall, with a round pillar in the centre, as described by 

 Sir Robert Barker. The floor being broken, and uneven, renders the height of 

 the outer wall irregular, but it measured from 8 feet 1 inch, to 8 feet 3 inches ; 

 diameter inside, 27 feet 6^ inches ; thickness of the wall, 2 feet. The inner 

 wall is 18 feet within; thickness of this wall, 1 foot 5i inches. The diameter 

 of the centre pillar, 3 feet 74- inches. 



At the 4 cardinal points, on the top of the outer wall, are 4 iron pins, with 

 small holes in them, through which, the Pundits say, wires are designed to be 

 drawn at the time of observation, which wires intersect each other at the centre 

 of the pillar. The tops of both the walls are graduated, or divided into degrees ; 

 and it is said, that by the shadow of these wires falling on the walls, the sun's 

 declination is found. In addition to the foregoing, which are described in the 

 plates alluded to, on the south-east quarter of the building is a large black stone, 

 6 feet 2 inches diameter, fronting the west; it stands on an inclined plane. I 

 could not learn the use of this instrument; but was informed that it never had 

 been completed. There is no other building of any consequence, nor does it 

 appear there ever was. 



For the following description I am indebted to our chief magistrate, the 

 Nabob Ali Ibrahim Kaun. " The area, or space comprizing the whole of the 

 buildings and instruments, is called in Hindoo, maun-mundel ; the cells, and 

 . all the lower part of the area, were built many years ago, of which there remains 

 no chronological account, by the Rajah Maunsing, for the repose of holy men, 

 and pilgrims, who come to perform their ablutions in the Ganges, on the banks of 

 which the building stands. On the top of this the observatory was built, by the 

 Rajah Jeysing, for observing the stars, and other heavenly bodies ; it was begun 

 in 1794 Sumbut, and, it is said, was finished in 2 years. The Rajah died in 

 1800 Sumbut. The design was drawn by Jaggernaut, and executed under the 

 direction of Sadashu Mahajin ; but the head workman was Mahon, the son of 

 Mahon a pot-maker of Jeypoor. The Pundit's pay was 5 rupees per day ; the 

 workmen's 2 rupees, besides presents ; some got lands, or villages, worth 3 or 

 400 rupees yearly value ; others money." 



