164 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
an ode prefixed to the book, in which his friend as- 
sures him, 
“ You have so lively your Discov’ries Writ, 
We Reade and Voyage with you as we sit, 
With you hoise Sail and reach the Indian Shoare ; 
The reale Scene cou’d scarce delight us more.’’ 
“ For Astrologie and Natural Physick ,” says our 
ancient author, “ the Indian Brahmins account 
themselves still very eminent and renowned ', hy 
which they foretel such distant Occurrences , and 
effect such strong Operations as seem to Men very 
wonderfull and astonishing, and not to he done 
without some secret Recourse to the Invisible Spirits, 
or familiaritie with Supernatural Powers. We 
reade the same of some excellent ancient Philoso- 
phers, so learn d in the Works of Nature as thereby 
to point out the times both of Eclipses in the Pla- 
nets and Commotions in the State, Earthquakes and 
Inundations , Storms at Sea, and Plagues at Land . 
And that the Reader may see that their extraordinary 
Skill in magical Operations is not yet vanisht, I will 
here relate a Story of them, which I remember was 
often publickly repeated by the last President at Su- 
rat t, Bartholomew Harris, concerning a certain Brah- 
min, in the time of the Presidency of Mr. Aungers, 
who foretold the Arrival of a certain English ship 
several Months afore she came to the Harbour . 
President Aungers being under a disturbance of his 
mind, and oppress'd with some perplext Thoughts for 
