IV. Observations on the Trigonometrical Tables of the 

 Brahmins. By John Platfair^ F. R. S. Edin. and 

 Frofejfor of Mathematics in the Univerfity of Edinburgh, 



[Read April 6. 1795-] 



I. TN the fecond volume of the Afiatic Refearches^ an extradl 

 X is given from the Surya Siddbanta^ the ancient book w^hich 

 has been long, though obfcurely, pointed out as the fource of 

 the aftronomical knowledge of the Brahmins. The Surya 

 Siddhanta is in the Sanfcrit language : It is one of The Saftras, 

 or infpired writings of the Hindoos, and is called the Jyotiih, 

 or Aftronomical, Saftra. It profefles, as we learn from Mr 

 Davis, the ingenious tranflator, to be a revelation from heaven, 

 communicated to Meya, a man of great fancflity, about four 

 millions of years ago, toward the clofe of the Satya Jug, or of the 

 Golden Age of the Indian mythologifts ; a period at which 

 man is faid to have been incomparably better than he is at pre- 

 fent ; when his ftature exceeded twenty-one cubits, and his life 

 extended to ten thoufand years. 



Interwoven, however, with all thefe extravagant fidions, this 

 fingular book contains a very fober and rational fyftem of aftro- 

 nomical calculation ; and even the principles and rules of trigo- 

 nometry, a fcience of all others the moft remote from fable, and 

 the leaft fufceptible of poetical decoration. It is on the con- 



L 2 ftrudion 



