362

NOTES TO THE APPENDIX.

ftate of fcience among the Hindoos, than in this place,where we are endeavouring to give fome idea of theirtafte in compofition.

NOTE X. p. 305.

As many of my readers may be unacquainted with theextravagant length of the four eras or periods of Indianchronology, it may be proper to give an account of themfrom Mr. Halhed ’s Preface to the Code of Gentoo Laws,p. xxxvi.

r The Suttee Jogue (or age of purity ) is faid to haveladed three million two hundred thoufand years, and theyhold that the life of man was extended in that age toone hundred thoufand years, and that his ftature wastwenty-one cubits.

2. The Tirtab Jogue (in which one third of mankindwas corrupted) they fuppofe to have confided of twomillion four hundred thoufand years, and that men livedto the age of ten thoufand years.

j. The Dveapaar Jogue ( in which half of the humanrace became depraved) endured one million fix hundredthoufand years, and the life of man was then reduced toa thoufand years.

4. The Collee Jogue ( in which all mankind are cor-rupted, or rather leffened, for that is .the true meaningof Collee ) is the prefent era, which they fuppofe ordainedto fubfift four hundred thoufand years , of which near fivethoufand are already paft, and the life of man in thatperiod is limited to one hundred years.

If we fuppofe the computation of time in the Indianchronology to be made by folar or even by lunar years,nothing can be more extravagant in itfelf, or morerepugnant to our mode of calculating the duration of the