Abul Fazel had related, Ayeen Akbery, III. p. 8.) communicated to mankind more than two millions of years ago, towards the close of the Sutty or Satya Jogue, the first of the four fabulous ages into which the Hindoo Mythologists divide the period during which they suppose the world to have existed. But when this accompaniment of fiction and extravagance is removed, there is left behind a very rational and elaborate system of astronomical calculation. From this Mr. Davis has selected what relates to the calculation of Eclipses, and has illustrated it with great ingenuity. The manner in which that subject is treated has so close an affinity to the methods formerly brought from India, and of which I have given some account, as to confirm strongly the opinion that the Súrya Siddhánța is the source from which all the others are derived. How far the real date of this work may be ascertained from the rules and tables which it contains, will be more clearly established when a translation of the whole is published. In the mean time it is evident, that what is already known with respect to these rules and tables, is extremely favourable to the hypothesis which ascribes a very high antiquity to the Astronomy of the Brahmins. THE circumstance, perhaps, most worthy of attention, in the Extracts now referred to, is the system of Trigonometry included in the Astronomical rules of the Súrya Siddhánta. Asiat. Research. ii. p. 245. 249. It may be shewn that this system is founded on certain Geometrical Theorems, which, though, modern Mathematicians be well acquainted with, were certainly unknown to Ptolemy and the Greek Geometricians. It is with pleasure, too, we observe, that Mr. Davis has in his possession several other ancient books of Hindoo astronomy, and that there is reason to expect from him a translation of the whole Súrya Siddhánta. It must be added, that we also learn from the second volume of the Asiatic Researches, that some vestiges of Algebraical calculation have been discovered among the Brahmins; particularly Rules for the solution of certain Arithmetical questions, with which it would seem that nothing but Algebra could have furnished them. Asiat. Research. ii. p. 468. note, 487. 495. My friend, Mr. Professor Playfair, has examined that Extract from the Súrya Siddhánta, which gives an account of the ancient Hindoo System of Trigonometry, and has discovered the principles on which it is founded. It is with pleasure I announce, that the result of this examination will be communicated soon to the Public, and will afford an additional proof of the extraordinary progress which the natives of India had early made in the most abstruse sciences. INDE X. Α ABUL FAZEL, minister to Akber, sovereign of Indostan, publishes the Ayeen Akbery, 215. And Heeto-Pades, 375. Acesines, a city built on that river by Alexander the Great, 303. Eras of Indian chronology, explained, 378. Remarks on, 379. Africa, general idea of the continent of, and of its trade, 159. Origin of the slave-trade, 181. Agathemerus, his account of the island of Taprobana, 83. His character of Ptolemy the geographer, 321. Agathodæmon illustrates the geography of Ptolemy, by maps, 321. Akber, sovereign of Indostan, his character, 214. 369. Albuquerque, Alphonso, the Portuguese admiral, seizes the island of Ormus, 152. His operations on the Red Sea, 153. Alexander the Great, his extensive views respecting India, 13. His expedition to India, 14. His war with Porus, 16. How obliged to relinquish his enterprise, 17. His measures for opening a maritime communication with India, 18. His account of India confirmed by modern observations, 22. His political views in exploring that country, 24. His measures to unite his European and Asiatic subjects, 26. Consequences of his death, 31. The sufferings of his army from the periodical rains, 295. His surprise at the tides of the Indian ocean, 299. Cities built by him in India, 303. 305. Intended a survey of the Caspian sea, 316. Alexandria, long the chief seat of commerce with India, 13. The light-house on the Pharos erected by Ptolemy Lagus, 38. Mode of conducting the silk trade at that port, 60. The Venetians trade there for silk, 124. And the Flo rentines, 127. Is subjected to the Turks, 155. Algebra, a mode of calculation not unknown to the Brahmins, Allahabad, the modern name of the ancient city of Palibothra, America, discovered by Christopher Columbus, 144. The Antiochus the Great, his inroad into India, 309. Antoninus, Marcus, Emperor, notices of an embassy sent by Antwerp, greatly enriched by becoming the staple of the Arabians, anciently great dealers in spices from the East, 56. Aromatics, why much used by the ancients, 55. Arrian, character of his history of the Indian expedition of 321.326. Arts and Sciences, where first cultivated, 2. Asbestos, its extravagant price among the Romans, 318. Augsburg, greatly enriched by becoming a mart for Indian Augustus Emperor, reduces Egypt to a Roman province, 45. Ayeen Akbery, account of the mutual intercourse of the East B Babelmandeb, derivation of the name, 310. Bactria, rise of the kingdom of, and its acquisitions in India, Baghvat Geta, the pure theology taught in that poem, 276. Bailly, M., his examination into the antiquity of astronomy Bank of Venice, the first establishment of that kind formed Barygaza, a considerable emporium on the coast of ancient Bassora, the city of, founded by the Caliph Omar, 100. Berenice, the city of, founded to facilitate the trade between- Bernier, M., his account of the Indian chronology, 380. Boddam East-India ship, remarkable speedy voyage of, from Brahmins, in India, their sacred rites and high privileges, Bruce, the information his travels afford concerning the ma- Bruges, made the staple of the trade of the Hanseatic league, Burrun Sunker, a class among the Hindoos, described, 358. C Caffa, the great trade carried on there, 339. Cairo, account of the caravan that travels from thence to |