An account of the Bramin's observatory at Benares / [Sir Robert Barker].

  • Sir Robert Barker, 1st Baronet
Date:
1777
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the Bramin's observatory at Benares / [Sir Robert Barker]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/38 page 5
    fitting of the feveral parts, in the neceffary and fufficient fupports to the very large ftones that compofed them, and in the joining and fattening each into the other by means of lead and iron. The fituation of the two large quadrants of the in- ftrument marked a in the firft plate, whofe radius is nine feet two inches, by their being at right angles with a gnomon at twenty-five degrees elevation, are thrown into fuch an oblique fituation as to render them the moft difficult, not only to conftructt of fuch a magnitude, but to fecure in their pofition for fo long a period, and affords a ftriking inftance of the ability of the architect in their conftru&ion; for, by the fhadow of the gnomon thrown on the quadrants, they do not appear to have altered in the leaft from their original pofition; and fo true is the fine of the gnomon, that, by applying the eye to a fmall iron ring of an inch diameter at one end, the fight is carried through three others of the fame dimenfion to the extremity at the other end, diftant thirty-eight feet eight inches, without obftrudtion; fuch is the firmnefs and art with which this inftrument has been executed. This performance is the more wonderful and extraor¬ dinary when compared with the works of the artificers of Hindoftan at this day, who are not under the immediate direction
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image