EFFECT OF THE SUN ON VAPOUR. 85 



heaven proceed from the violent heat of the Sunne ; first, as LlB - &quot; 

 we have said before, it raines in those countries whenas the 

 Sunne casts his beames directly vpon the earth, at which 

 time he hath most force : but when the Sun retyres, the 

 heat is moderate, and then there falls no raine ; whereby 

 we may conclude that the force and heat of the Sunne is the 

 cause of raine in those Countries. Moreover, we observe, 

 both in Peru, New Spaine, and in all the burning Zone, that 

 the raine doth vsually fall in after-noone, when as the sunne- 

 beames are in their greatest force, being strange to see it 

 raine in the morning. And therefore travellers, fore-seeing 

 it, begin their iourneys earely, that they may end and rest 

 before noone, for they hold that commonly it raines after 

 noone. Such as have frequented and travelled those Coun 

 tries, can sufficiently speake thereof. And there are that 

 (having made some abode there) say, that the greatest 

 aboundance of raine is, when the Moone is at the full ; but, 

 to say the trueth, I could never make sufficient proofe 

 thereof, although I have observed it. Moreover, the dayes, 

 the yeere, and the moneths, shew the trueth hereof, that 

 the violent heate of the sunne causeth the raine in the 

 burning Zone : experience teacheth vs the like in artificiall 

 thinges, as in a Limbecke, 1 wherein they draw waters from 

 hearbs and flowers ; for the vehernencie of the fire forceth 

 and driveth vp an aboundance of vapours, which being 

 pressed, and finding no issue, are converted into liquor and 

 water. The like wee see in gold and silver, which wee re 

 fine with quicke-silver, the fire being small and slow, wee 

 draw out almost nothing of the quicke-silver, but if it bee 

 quicke and violent, it doth greatly evaporate the quick 

 silver, which incountring the head above, doth presently 

 turne into liquor, and begins to drop downe. Even so the 

 violent heate of the sunne produceth these two effects, 

 when it finds matter disposed, that is, to draw vp the 

 1 &quot; Alquitares y alambiques.&quot; Both words mean a still. 



