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of their boats by the fun and flars, * proves evidently that this 

 fcience muil have had its rife and progrefs among 



themfelves ; as 



many points could l^y no melans agree, had the Afiatic aftronomy 

 difcovered in the Northern Hemifphere been carried to Taheitee* 

 The points v^hefe the fun rifes and fets at different feafons, in 

 countries fituated in the Southern hemifphere, differs ffom 

 thofe in the Northern, fo that the Afiatic knowledge muff have 

 been in a great meafure ufelefs. The farther the Afiatic country, 

 in which we will fuppofe the Taheitean aftronomy to have 

 originated, is removed from the equinocftial line Northwards, 



r 



the more fenfible does this difference become, ^^nd renders it more 

 probable that the inhabitants, of thefe iiles were the inventors 

 their own aftronomy and geography : and if they 



ARTS 

 AND 



SCIENCES 



O 



r _ 



had ffrength of 



Y y y 2 



mm 



* The EaSeavoLir, in \vhicl\ fliip Tupaya failed to Batavia, failed firft from Tahcitec 

 into forty Degrees South Latitude, then (he came by a North Weft courfe into twenty-eight 

 .De<rrees, after this flie came by a South Weil courfe to about thirty-eight Degrees, and 

 hy a Weftern rim to New Zeeland, which iHands were circumnavigated in runs of various 

 diredions to forty-eight Degrees South Latitude, till by another Wefterly courfe the coafts 

 of New Holland were reached, along which Ihe failed Nortb and North Weft, up to about 



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four Decrrees North Latitude, and then Weft to Savu, and laftly by the Streights of 

 Sunda to Batavia. However, Tupaya was never at a lofs to point to Taheitee, at whatever 

 place he came, even at Batavia at more than 2000 Leagues diftance : which evidently 



proves that he was perfedly well ac(^uuinted with aftronomy and geography, as 

 are iicceffary for thefe purpofes. 



far as they 



