334 
of the signs: then the six nacshatras denoted by 
the names of two faces ^ three prints of the feet of 
Vislmou^ the tail of the lion, the wreath ef leaves 
the arrow, and the head of the antelope, would 
have represented our signs, the Twins, the Crab, 
the Lion, the Virgin, the Sagiltary, and Capri- 
corn. But on any of these suppositions, the 
Balance, the Lion, and the Ram, are not placed 
at the reciprocal distances which are fitted for 
them. According to the learned researches of 
the members of the society at Calcutta, the nac- 
shatras aswini, horse ; pushy a, arrow ; and inula, 
tail of the lion ; answer to a. of the Ram, I of the 
Crab, and y of the Scorpion, of the Greek 
zodiac, or to the dog, the sheep, and hare of the 
zodiac of Tartary and Thibet. 
It may seem extraordinary, at first sight, that 
these nations, in forming from the twenty-seven 
or twenty-eight signs of the lunar calendar the 
twelve signs of the solar zodiac, should have pre- 
served the names of a great number of constella- 
tions, without any regard to their absolute posi- 
tion, and to the order in which they follow each 
other ; but we must not conclude thence, that the 
striking analogy between twelve nacshatras and 
an equal number of signs of the Thibetan and 
Greek zodiac is merely accidental. As the de- 
nominations of the lunar mansions have gradually 
descended even to the days, we may conceive, 
that they were become familiar to the people, 
