THE BURNING ZONE VERY MOIST. 75 



course tcacheth vs, touching the cause of heat and cold Ll3&amp;gt; &quot; 

 vpoii the regions of the earth. But what shall we say of 

 the two other qualities, wet and drie ? Even the same. For 

 the drought seemes to grow by the neerenes of the Sunne, 

 and moistnes, being retired farre off, for that the night 

 being colder then the day, is likewise more moist ; and the 

 day which is drier, is also hotter. Winter, whilst the Sun 

 runnes his course farther off, is more cold and ramie, and 

 Summer, when the Sunne is neere, is more hotte and 

 drie ; for even as the fire hath the propertie to parch and 

 burne, so hath it to drie vp the moistnes. These things 

 therefore considered, Aristotle and other Philosophers at 

 tribute vuto the regions of the South, which they call burn- 

 in 0-. an excessive heat and a drouth likewise. And there- 



O * 



fore they said, this region is wonderfully scorched and drie ; 

 and so by consequence hath neither waters nor pastures, 

 whereby of necessitie it must be contrarie and vnfit for 

 mans life. 



CHAP. in. That the burning Zone is very moist, contrary to 

 the opinion of the Ancients. 



All that we have propounded seemes vndoubtedly true, 

 and to purpose; and yet the conclusion they would draw 

 from it is directly false ; for that the Region of the South, 

 which they call the burning Zone, is peopled and inhabited 

 by men ; and wee our selves have stayed long there, beeing 

 very commodious, pleasant, and agreeable. If, therefore, 

 it be so, as we cannot denie it, that from a true proposition 

 we cannot draw a false conclusion, and yet this conclusion 

 should be false (as indeed it is), we must of necessitie re- 

 turne backe the same way, to examine this proposition more 

 strictly, and whence the error should proceede ; we will first 

 shew the trueth, as assured experience doth teach vs, then 



