ASTRONOMICAL LABOURS OF JAVAS1NUA. ?03 



and thicknefs with the rim. The limb is divided into 

 360 degrees, each degree into four equal parts ; and 

 there are larger divilions, containing fix degrees each: 

 The iize of a degree is .:>> of an inch. Round the cen- 

 tre revolves an index of brafs ; the end of which is 

 formed as in tiie margin ; and the line 

 A B, which produced, pafles through 

 the centre of the circle, marks the 

 degrees. From this defer! prion, it 

 appears that the circle when placed 

 in a vertical poiition, is in the plane 

 of the meridian of Benares ; when it 

 declines from that pofition, it rep:e~ 

 fents fome other meridian. Were 

 there any contrivance for meafurin^ 

 the quantity of this deviation, it would anfwer the pur- 

 pofe of an equatorial inftrument, for determining the 

 place of a ftar, or any other phenomenon in the hea- 

 vens. For by moving the circle and its index, till the 

 latter points exactly to the object:, the degrees of de- 

 viation from the vertical poiition would mark the dis- 

 tance of the object from the meridian ; and the degrees 

 on the circle, interfered between the index and the 

 diameter, which is perpendicular to that on which it 

 revolves, would fhew its declination. This laft may 

 indeed be obferved with the Inftrument in its prefent 

 ftate ; but I am inclined to think, that there has been 

 fome contrivance for the former part alfo ; having been 

 informed by a learned Pandit, that in two rings of this 

 kind in the Jeyanagar obfervatory fuch contrivance 

 actually exifts. On one of the pillars that lupport the 

 axis, a circle is defcribed parallel to the equator, di- 

 vided into degrees and minutes ; to the axis of the 

 moveable circle is fixed an index, which is carried 

 round by the motion of the circle ; and thus points 

 out, among the divilions on the immoveable circle, the 

 diftance from the meridian of the body to be obferved. 

 Obfervations with this inftrument cannot have ad- 

 mitted of much accuracy, as the index is not fur- 



N 2 niihed 



