"[T]ill that of ... there were few, if any observations made... during an interval of near 600 years, If any were made, they must chiefly be sought for among the Arabians, as this was the dark age of learning in Europe. Under... the Arabians we must not omit to take notice of one considerable improvement made in Arithmetic, and therefore an improvement not only in mercantile business, but likewise in all branches of mixed Mathematics, and particularly in Astronomy. This was by the introduction ofTHE INDIAN FIGURES.They are supposed to have been brought into Europe by the Moors, or that branch of the Arabs that conquered Spain. ...Ebn Sina, commonly called Avicenna... says, that "his father sent him to an herb-merchant to learn them." ...As the Indian figures are on infinite service in all branches of mixed Mathematics, and particularly in Astronomy... the next considerable improvement in this science was by the introduction of DECIMAL ARITHMETIC. This, according to Dr. Wallis, in his Preface to his Algebra was first done by ', about the year 1450. But the greatest improvement of all was made by the introduction ofLOGARITHMS.For, by their means, numbers almost infinite, and such as are otherwise impracticable, are managed with ease and expedition. They are the incontestable invention of the Lord Neper, a Scotchman, about the year 1614."