6c>4 Sir Robert barker’s Account of 
Figure e is a fmaller equinoctial Sun-dial, conftrudt‘£ 
upon the fame principle as the large one a. 
I cannot quit this fubjedt without obferving, that the 
Bramins, without the affiftance of optical glaffes, had 
neverthelefs an advantage unexperienced by the ob- 
fervers of the more Northern climates. The ferenity 
and clearnefs of the atmofphere in the night-time in the 
Eaft Indies, except at the feafons of changing the mon- 
foons or periodical winds, is difficult to exprefs to thofe 
who have not feen it, becaufe we have nothing in com- 
parifon to form our ideas upon : it is clear to perfection, a 
total quietude fublifts,fcarcely a cloud to be feen ; and the 
light of the heavens, by the numerous appearance of 
the ftars, affords a profpedt both of wonder and con- 
templation. 
This obfervatory at Benares is faid to have been built 
by the order of the emperor ackbar; for as this wife 
prince endeavoured to improve the. arts, fo he wiffied alfo 
to recover the fciences of Hindoftan, and therefore di- 
rected that three fuch places ffiould be eredted; one at 
Delhi, another at Agra, and the third at Benares., 
Some doubts have arifen with regard to the certainty 
of the ancient Bramins having a knowledge in aftro- 
nomy, and whether the Perfians might not have intro- 
duced it into Hindoftan when conquered by that people ; 
but 
