GEORGE BEST'S DISCOURSE a.d. 



1578. 



especially seeing the night wherein colde and moysture 

 doe abound under the Tropickes, is lesse then it is under 

 the Equinoctiall. Therefore I gather, that under the 

 Tropickes is the hotest place, not onely of Torrida Zona, 

 but of any other part of the world, especially because 

 there both causes of heate doe concurre, that is, the per- 

 pendicular falling of the Sunne beames two monethes 

 together, and the longer abode of the Sunnes presence 

 above the Horison. And by this meanes more at large is 

 prooved, that Marochus in Sommer is farre more hote, 

 then at any time under the Equinoctiall, because it is 

 situate so neere the Tropick of Cancer, and also for the 

 length of their dayes. Neither yet do I thinke, that 

 the Regions situate under the Tropicks are not habitable, 

 for they are found to be very fruitfull also ; although 

 Marochus and some other parts of Afrike neere the 

 Tropike for the drinesse of the native sandie soile, and [III. 54.] 

 some accidents may seeme to some to be intemperate for 

 over much heat. For Ferdinandus Oviedus speaking of 

 Cuba and Hispaniola, Hands of America, lying hard Cuba. 

 under, or by the Tropike of Cancer, saith, that these His P aniola - 

 Hands have as good pasture for cattell, as any other 

 countrey in the world. 



Also, they have most holesome and cleare water, and 

 temperate aire, by reason whereof the heards of beastes 

 are much bigger, fatter, and of better taste, then any 

 in Spaine, because of the ranke pasture, whose moysture 

 is better digested in the hearbe or grasse, by continuall 

 and temperate heate of the Sunne, whereby being made 

 more fat and unctious, it is of better and more stedfast 

 nourishment : For continuall and temperate heate doeth 

 not onely drawe much moysture out of the earth to the 

 nourishment of such things as growe, and are engendred 

 in that Clime, but doeth also by moderation preserve the 

 same from putrifying, digesting also, and condensating or 



thickning the said moyst nourishment into a gumme and ^.! he . 

 3 1 1 1 111 j Tropickes is 



unctious substance, whereby appeareth also, that under m ^ erate tm _ 



the Tropikes is both holesome, fruitefull, and pleasant perature. 



267 



