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from him concerning fome pofitions in ancient Geography : I mean, that of Palibothra, in particular; and fome few others. I have generally avoided all difquifitions of this kind, from a conviction of the general obfcurity of the subject; and which even an intimate knowledge of the Indian languages would not enable me to clear up: for the fimilitude between ancient and modern names is very fallacious, unless strongly corroborated by fituation. But we cannot well refuse our affent to the opinion that Ptolemy meant the Suttuluz, or Setlege by the Zaradrus; the Rauvee by the Rhuadis, or Adaris; and the Fenaub, or Chunaub by the Sandabalis: because not only the names, but the positions have an affinity to each other. And yet this is a part of Ptolemy, which M. D'Anville difcredits the most but the reafon was, that he was not himself acquainted with the true names of the rivers.

M. Buffy's marches in the Deccan afford data for fixing the pofitions of many capital places there; particularly Hydrabad, Aurungabad, Bifnagur, and Sanore. But ftill there are plans of fome of his marches wanting, which, could they be procured, would throw much light on the Geography of the peninfula, and the Deccan: fuch as that from Pondicherry to Cuddapah, Adoni, and Hydrabad; that from Aurungabad to Nagpour; and the campaign towards Poonah. There are also exifting, Itineraries kept by very intelligent people, who have travelled from

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Pondicherry, direct to Delhi; and from Calcutta to Nagpour: but I know not how to fet about procuring them. The public records at Goa, I am informed, contain a vast fund of Geographical knowledge; and yet we are more in the dark, concerning the country on that fide of the peninsula, than we are with refpect to the centre of the Deccan.

Could the whole mafs of Geographical matter that refpects India (much of which, is probably in the hands of people who are ignorant of its value) be collected, I make no doubt but that very complete maps of the feveral provinces of it, might be constructed, on scales large enough for any ordinary purpose.

It is intended by these sheets to particularize the several authorities from whence the pofitions in the map are drawn ; together with the manner of comparing them, in cases where they disagreed: as also, the manner of combining them, when more than one circumstance was required to establish a position. By this means, the authority for each particular, may be known to those who have curiofity enough to enquire after it: and the defective parts being thus pointed out, fome future Geographer may be ftimulated to feek for better materials. It may alfo tempt those who are already in poffeffion of fuch materials, when they are apprized of their ufe, to contribute them to the public ftock. Any communications of the kind will be thankfully received; and a proper use made of them.

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The Reader may have obferved, that in the former part of the Preface, I have alluded to AN INDEX TO THE MAP. There will accordingly be found, at the end of the work, two distinct Indexes; the one referring to the matter of the Memoir, the other to the names of countries and places in the map. The great waste of time occafioned by searching after particular fituations, in maps of any extent, makes me wonder that an Index fhould not be deemed as neceffary an appendage to a large map, as to a large book. For an Index will in the first instance inform the Reader whether the place fought after be in the map, or not. If in the map, he is directed to it with as much facility, as to a passage in a book from an ordinary Index. be not there, although he may, indeed, blame the map for its deficiency, he must allow that it does not rob him of his time by encouraging fruitless researches.

And if it

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EXPLANATION of the EMBLEMATICAL FRONTISPIECE to the MAP.

BRITTANNIA receiving into her Protection, the facred Books of the HINDOOS, presented by the PUNDITS, OF LEARNED Bramins: in Allufion to the humane Interpofition of the British Legislature in Favor of the Natives of Bengal, in the Year 1781. BRITTANNIA is fupported by a Pedestal, on which are engraven the Victories, by Means of which the British Nation obtained, and has hitherto upheld, its Influence in India: amongst which, the two recent ones of PORTO Novo and SHOLINGUR, gained by GENERAL COOTE, are particularly pointed out by a SEPOY to his Comrade.

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