it proper to mention their names, the Public would allow that, by their difcernment and abilities, they are fully entitled to the confidence which I have placed in them. of In the progrefs of the work, I became fenfible my own deficiency with refpect to another point. In order to give an accurate idea of the imperfection both of the theory and practice of navigation among the Ancients, and to explain, with fcientific precifion, the manner in which they ascertained the pofition of places, and calculated their longitude and latitude, a greater portion of mathematical knowledge was requifite, than my attention to other studies had permitted me to acquire. What I wanted, the friendship of my ingenious and refpectable Colleague, Mr. Playfair, Profeffor of Mathematics, has supplied; and I have been enabled by him to elucidate all the points I have mentioned, in a manner which, I am confident, will afford my readers complete fatisfaction. To him, likewise, I am indebted for the conftruction of two maps neceffary for illuftrating this Difquifition, which without his affiftance I could not have undertaken. I HAVE adhered, in this work, to an arrangement I followed in my former compofitions, and to which the public has been long accustomed. I have kept hiftorical narrative as much feparate as poffible from scientific and critical difcuffions, by referving the latter for Notes and Illuftrations. I flatter myself that I may claim, without prefumption, the merit of having examined with diligence what I fubmit to public inspection, and of having referred, with fcrupulous accuracy, to the authors from whom I have derived information. COLLEGE OF EDINBURGH, OF THE DISQUISITION CONCERNING ANCIENT INDIA. Intercourse with India, from the Conqueft of Egypt by the Mahomedans, to the Discovery of the Paf- sage by the Cape of Good Hope, and the Ef- AN HISTORICAL DISQUISITION CONCERNING ANCIENT INDIA. SECTION I. Intercourfe with India, from the earliest Times until the Conquest of Egypt by the Romans. WHOEVER I. HOEVER attempts to trace the operations S EC T. of men in remote times, and to mark the various fteps of their progress in any line of exertion, will foon have the mortification to find, that the period of authentic hiftory is extremely limited. It is little more than three thousand years fince the Books of Mofes, the most ancient and only genuine record of what paffed in the early ages of the world, were compofed. Herodotus, the moft ancient Heathen hiftorian whofe works have reached us, flourished a thousand years later. If we push our inquiries concerning any point beyond the æra where written hiftory commences, we enter upon the region of conjecture, of fable, and of uncertainty. Upon that ground I will neither venture myself, nor endeaVOL. XII. B vour |