1845.] du Buddhism Indien, par.E. Burnovf. 809 



In taking leave of the author with the hope, that he may soon be able 

 to complete his important work, we conclude with expressing the wish, 

 that it may contribute to revive the zeal for similar enquiries here in 

 India. May it warn us that by collecting the Sanscrit and Pali MSS. 

 from all parts of India, we may still open new sources to the learned, 

 may it warn us, that there still are ancient architectural monuments, 

 which are not sufficiently explored, and which may perhaps but for a 

 short time longer, invite us to preserve the records which they have 

 for centuries offered to the enquirer. 



On the genuine character of the Hord Sdstra, as regards the use of Greek 

 terms. By J. Muir, Esq., C.S. 



In the " Zeitschrift fur die Kunde des Morgenlandes," part 2nd, 

 of the 4th volume, page 302, et seq. there is a translation of an 

 article, from the translations of the Literary Society of Madras,* 

 by Mr. C. M. Whish, on the origin and age of the Indian Zodiac, with 

 remarks by Mr. Lassen. Mr. Whish's paper is written to prove the 

 derivation of the Hindu Zodiac from the Greek Astronomers, and in 

 pursuance of this object, he quotes from a Sanskrit Astrological work, 

 called the Hora Sastra, a verse in which the names of the different 

 signs of the Zodiac are evidently of Greek origin. Mr. Lassen in his 

 remarks on Mr, Whish's paper, subjoined to the translation, expresses 

 a doubt of the Hora Sastra being a genuine work of the ancient Astro- 

 nomer Varaha Mihira ; and, (in the absence of the original works, to 

 which he had not access,) refers to Mr. Colebrooke's account of that 

 writer's works, in which no mention is made of the Hora Sastra. 



Being anxious to ascertain the age and genuineness, or otherwise, 

 of the Hora Sastra, according to the idea of the Astrological Pundits 

 at Benares, I sent a copy of the Slokes quoted from that work in Mr. 

 Whish's paper to Bapu Deo Sastri, (an enlightened young man, an 

 eleVe of the late Mr. L. Wilkinson, and now Professor of Natural Phi- 

 losophy in the Government College at Benares. f) He at once recog- 



* Part I. London 1827, pp. 63—77. 

 t Bapu Deo is an excellent Astronomer and Mathematician, well read in the 

 Hindu system ; and in the European, advanced as far as the Calculus, and daily 

 adding to his knowledge. He has written a Treatise on Algebra, on the European 

 system, in Sanskrit and Hindi. 



