106 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [June, 



make its indications agree with reality. To make the year begin 

 with the ecliptic conjunction of the sun in the vernal equinox is an 

 impossibility. To retain then the full idea which the name mahd 

 vishuva mesha sankrdnti conveys, is out of the question. The year 

 must then be commenced at either of the two dates, the 10th of March, 

 or the 22nd of April. The latter is preferred on account of the advan- 

 tages the new method will confer on calculations. 



A translation of the principal points of a circular issued in Sans- 

 crit is appended. This quotes the most authoritative passages, 

 showing that a change of the beginning of the year on account 

 of the precession of the equinoxes is not contrary to the Qastras, 

 with a Hindu the authority of the Qastra being the only argument. 



Some doubts as to the propriety of performing the Ghatotsarga 

 ceremony on the 31st of Chaitra having arisen, Professor Bapu Devaof 

 Benares was addressed on the subject. The Qastri replied favourably. 

 His reply, with the original query, is appended to the circular. The 

 circular quotes passages from the Surya Siddhanta, the Soma Siddhanta 

 and other astronomical works, to show that the Hindu authors 

 admit of and give rules for determining the motion of equinoctial 

 points. 



Read a letter from Major C. H. Strutt, enclosing the following 

 description of a coin of Sojrfiytus. 



Obverse. 



^jsv 



Obverse. Head with helmet and cheek plates, a crown of laurel wreath 

 over the helmet ; no inscription. 



Reverse. A cock in splendid preservation with a Greek inscription 



perfectly plain, 20<£YTOY " of Sophytus." Monogram ? the Caduceus 



or Mercury's Hod. 



Purchased somewhere in the Peshawur district, from a zemindar, 

 together with several coins of the Bactrian scries, a gold Diodotus, 

 two Alexander the Great's coins, and one of the Bucephalus coins 

 All of these coin* are in perfect preservation. 



•j 



