Indian Science and Technology in the Eighteenth Century: Some Contemporary European Accounts c9.22

c9.22

14. The Siamese MS breaks off here, and does not inform us how the astronomers of that country proceed, in the remaining parts of their calculation, which they seem to have undertaken, merely for some purpose in astrology. M. Cassini, to whom we are indebted for the explanation of these tables, observes, that they are not originally constructed for the meridian of Siam, because the rules direct to take away 3' for the sun, and 40' for the moon, (being the motion of each for 1ʰ 13'), from their longitudes calculated as above.¹⁸ The meridian of the tables is therefore 1ʰ, 13' or 18°, 15' west of Siam; and it is remarkable, that this brings us very near to the meridian of Benares, the ancient seat of Indian learning.¹⁹ The same agrees nearly with what the Hindoos call their first meridian, which passes through Ceylon and the banks of Ramanancor. We are, therefore, authorised, or rather, we are necessarily determined to conclude, that the tables of Siam came originally from Hindostan.