THE ASTRONOMY OF THE HINDUS. 163 



VI. 



May it not be of consequence to procure descrip- 

 tions of the principal astronomical buildings and 

 instruments of which any remains are still to be 

 found, and which are certainly known to be of 

 Hindu origin P 



Under this head I would comprehend not only 

 such work's as the Observatory at Benares, which is 

 well described by Sir Robert Barker, but also 

 such instruments as the Astrolabe , mentioned by Mr. 

 Burrow in the Appendix to the second volume of 

 the Asiatic Researches ; and engravings of such instru- 

 ments will be necessary to accompany the descriptions. 



Though, in the preceding questions, there may 

 be nothing that has escaped the attention of the Soci- 

 ety in Bengal, yet they will* perhaps, be forgiven to 

 one who feels himself deeply interested in the subject 

 to which they relate, and who would not lose even 

 the feeblest ray of a light, which, without the exer- 

 tions of the Asiatic Society, must perish for ever. 



REMARK BY THE PRESIDENT. 

 We shall concur, I am persuaded, in giving our 



public thanks to Professor Play fair for the Ques- 

 tions which he has proposed ; and in expressing our 

 wish, that his example may be followed by the learned 

 in Europe* Concise answers to his queries will be 

 given in my next annual discourse ; th? subject of 

 which will comprise a general account of Indian 



M 2 astronomy 



