HEAT TEMPERED BY EAIN. 91 



they call Sumatra, is vnder the Equinoctiall, as in effect it LlB - &quot; 

 is, writing, that it is not onely happie and rich, but also 

 peopled with men and beasts ; whereby we may easily 

 iudge, that although the Ancients held the heate of the 

 burning Zone to be insupportable, yet might they well 

 vnderstand that it was not so great as they had spoken. 

 The most excellent Astrologer and Cosmographer, Ptolemy, 

 and the worthie Philosopher and Physitian, Avicen, were of 

 a better resolution, being both of opinion that vnder the 

 Equinoctiall, there were verie commodious habitations. 



CHAP. x. TJiat the heat of the burning Zone is temperate, by 

 reason of the rayne and the shortnes of the dayes. 



Since the discoverie of this newe worlde, wee have found 

 by experience that which late Writers have held for trueth. 

 But it is a naturall thing, whenas any matter beyond our 

 conceit is made knowne vnto vs by experience, we by and 

 by examine the cause. Therefore wee desire to know the 

 reason why a Region where the sunne approacheth neerest, 

 is not onely temperate, but in many parts cold. Con 

 sidering this matter generally, I finde two general causes 

 which maketh this Region temperate ; the one is that 

 before mentioned, for that this Region is very moist and 

 subiect to raine, and there is no doubt but the rayne doth 

 refresh it, -for that the water is by nature cold ; and although 

 by the force of the fire it be made hotte, yet doth it tem 

 per this heat proceeding onely from the sunne-beames. 

 The which we see by experience in the inner Arabia, the 

 which is burnt with the Sunne, having no showres to 

 temper the violence thereof. The cloudes and mists are 

 the cause that the sunne offends not so much, and the 

 showers that fall from them refresh both the ayre and the 

 earth, and moisten likewise, how hot soever it be. They 



