﻿OF THE HINDUS* 259 



paper will without it be sufficiently prolix, T shali 

 nexf proceed to show how the astronomical Pandits 

 determine the moon's distance and diameter, and other 

 requisites tor the prediction of a lunar eclipse. 



The earth they consider as spherical, and imagine 

 its diameter divided into 1600 equal parts, or Yojanas. 

 An ancient met] . circle's circumference 



was to multiply the diameter by three ; but this being 

 not qui r e enough, the Munis directed that it should be 

 multiplied by the square root of ten. This gives for. 

 the equatorial circumference of the earth in round 

 numbers 50(59 Yojanas, as it is determined in the Su- 

 rya Siddhanta. In the table of sines, however _, found 

 in the same book, the radius being made to consist of 

 3438 equal parts or minutes, of which equal- parts 

 the quadrant contains 5400, implies the knowledge 

 of a much more accurate ratio of the diameter to the 

 circumference; for by the first i: is as 1. to 3. 1627.&C. 

 by the last, as 1. to 3. 14136; and it is determined 

 by the most approved labours of the Europeans, as 

 1. to 3. 141 59, &c. In the Pur anas the circum- 

 ference of the earth is declared to be 500,000,000 

 Yojans ; and, to account for this amazing difference 

 the commentator before quoted thought, " the YojaH 

 " stated in the Surya Siddhanta contained each 

 '* 100,000 of those meant in the Puranas ; or per- 

 haps, as some suppose, the earth was really of that 

 size in some former Cod.pa. Moreover, others say, 

 that from the equator south ward. the earth increa- 

 " ses in bulk : hc.vcver, for astronomical purposes, 

 *' the dimensions given by Surya must be assumed.'* 

 The equatorial circumference bein - assigned, the 

 circumference of a circle of longitud in any latitude 

 is determined. As radius 3438 is to the Lambajya 

 or sine of the polar distance, equal to the complete- 

 ment of the latitude to nmetv degrees, so is 'the equa- 

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