Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts c11.16

c11.16

When we are arrived at some knowledge of the Sanscrit, we may make discoveries of much importance, and either verify the assertions or contradict them. I relate simply what was told to me, I do not take upon me to vouch any thing, but that the man had not any interest in deceiving me; I asked for information, after the manner of a disciple; proposed questions arising from the discourse, and making comparison of what he said, with our system, for further information. He replied, you and the mussulmans differ, from each other and from us; the mussulmans suppose the sun to go round the earth, daily, and annually; but the earth turns round its axis daily, according to your system, and to ours; mussulmans follow Ptolemy, we the ancient books, and you a system of your own, if not derived from ours.