﻿4QO APPENDIX. 



It is much to be feared, however, that many of the 

 best treatises of the Hindoos are lost, and that many 

 of those that remain are imperfect. By the help of a 

 Piindit I translated part of the Bcej Ganeta near six 

 years ago, when no European but myself, I believe, 

 even suspected that the Hindoos had any Algebra; but 

 finding that my copy was imperfect, I deferred com- 

 pleting the translation, in hopes of procuring the re- 

 mainder. I have since found a small part more, and 

 have seen many copies; but from the plan of the work 

 (which in my opinion is the best way of judging) they 

 still seem to be all imperfect, though the copier gene- 

 rally takes care to put at the end of them that they are 

 complete. I have the same opinion of the Leelavatfy, 

 and for the same reason : indeed, it is obvious that 

 there must have been treatises existing where algebra 

 was carried much farther ; because many of their rules 

 in astronomy are approximations deduced from infi- 

 nite series, or at least have every ( appearance of it; 

 such, for instance, as finding the sine from the arc, and 

 the contrary ; and finding the angles of aright angled 

 triangle from the hypothenuse and sides, independent 

 of tables of sines ; and several others of a similar na- 

 ture, much more complicated. I have been informed 

 by one of their Pundits, that, some time ago, there 

 were other treatises of Algebra besides that just men- 

 tioned, and much mere difficult, though he had not 

 seen them ; and therefore as it is possible they may 

 still be existing, and yet be in danger of perishing 

 very soon, it is much to be wished that people would 

 collect as many of the books of science as possible 

 (their poetry is in no danger) and particularly those 

 of the doctrine of Boodh, which perhaps may be met 

 with towards Thbct. That many of their best books are 

 depraved and lost is evident, because there is not now a 

 single book of geometrical elements to be met with ; 

 and yet that they had elements not long ago, and appa- 

 rently more extensive than those of Euclid, is obvious 



