ON THE EQUINOXES. 221 



the true doctrine of an uniform motion in antecedentia, at lead feven- 

 hundred years ago.* when the aftronomers of Europe alfo were 

 divided on the qucftion. That they had approximated to the true 

 rate of that motion much nearer than Ptolemy, before the Arabian 

 aftronomers, and as near the truth as thefc have ever done fince. 

 From this we may perhaps be led to a further conelufion, that, the af- 

 tronomy of the Hindus merits a more particular examination than it 

 has yet obtained, not indeed with any expectation of advancing the 

 fcience of aflronomy, which needs not fuch aid, and can derive none 

 from the labors of aftronomers who have recorded no obfervations; 

 but for the hiftory of the fcience, and afcertainment of the progrefs 

 which was here made r and that, with this. view, the works of Hindu* 

 aftronomers, whofe age is precifely known, and in particular thofe 

 of Bhascara, which contain a complete courfe o£ aflronomy and of 

 fciences connected with it, fhould be carefully perufed ; as well as thofc 

 of Brahmegupta, which are full of quotations from earlier aftrono- 

 mers, asA'RYABHATT A, t WrAH AMIH.IR A, JS'RISHENA, || VlSHN 17CHAH* 



dra,§ and fome others, who are cited by him for the purpofe of ex- 

 pofing and correcting their errors. 



In regard to Va'ra'hamihiba and the Surya-jidd'hdnta, b th fepa- 

 rately quoted in the Brahmt ■ fphutci-Jidd'limta of Brahmegipta, 

 I. mvy here remark, that a book entitled Surya-Jidd'hdnta is men- 

 tioned by Varahamihira himfelf, in his mofl undoubted work, 

 the treatife on aftrology entitled Vdrdhifanhita,. where, defcribing 



* Bhajcai.a, who quotes Munjai.a, completed the S'troman'i in 1072, Saca, 01 A, D. 115^ 

 i Author of the Da/apji/cd at\d Arjdjhia fata. 

 % Named wnh cenfure by B**hmecuftAo 

 I Author of the RomacnftM'hdnta. 

 \ Mentioned sa-the author of the faftjht'ha fidfhdnts. 



