Hfilorie of the Indies, lib.il 8? 



That the burning Zone // 'very moift , contrary ft the o- 

 finion of the Ancients. CHAP. 3 . 



A LI that we have propoundcd,feemes vndoubted- 

 ly true, and to purpofe $ and yet the conclufion 

 they would draw from it, is diredly falfe; for that the 

 Region of the South, which they call the burning 

 Zone , is peopled and inhabited by men ; and wee our 

 fclves have flayed long there , beeing very com modi- 

 ous, pleafant and agreeable. If therefore it befo(as we 

 cannot denie it) that from a true proposition, we can 

 not draw a falfe conclufion , and yet this conclufion 

 ihould be falfe, ( as indeed it is,) we muft of neceffitie 

 returns backe the fame way, to examine this propoflti- 

 on more ftri&ly , & whence the error ihould proceede: 

 we will firft (hew the trueth, as allured experience doth 

 teach vs, then will we proove it , ( although it be verie 

 difficult ) and will endevour to give a reaibn, -folio w- 

 ing the termesof Philofophie. The laft point that wee 

 propounded , that the drought is greateft, whenas the 

 Sunne isneereR to the earth , feemeth certaineand in- 

 fallible, and yet it is very falfe 5 for there is never grea 

 ter aboundance of raine in the burning Zone^ then 

 whenas the Sunne goeth diredly over them, and is ve 

 ry neere. Truely it is an admirable thing', and worthy 

 obfervation, that the ayreismoftcleere/andwkhout 

 rayne vn^er this burning Zove , whenas the Sunne is 

 fartheft off- and contrariwife there is moft mvne, fiiow 

 andmifts, whenas the Sunne is necreft. Such as have 

 not travelled in this new world, wil happily thinke this 

 incredible, and it will ieemeftrangc even vntofuchas 

 havebeene there, if they have norwellobferved it.-but 



GS the 



