Horizon but oblique Yet it is not general that the wind proceedeth in a perpendicular way to the Horizon because that oftentimes in the Air transverse Blasts are found So we see that Smoak coming forth of a Chimney is not carried by the wind towards one quarter but part of it is carried unto other quarters Proposition XII Why the Winds blow by an interrupted force so that sometimes they cease and other some as it were with redoubled strength they return with the greater importunity And why that they seem more continually to blow on the Sea so that it is discovered less calm The Winds 〈◊〉 blow by an interrupted force I suppose the reason to be that the cause that moveth or stirreth up the Winds continueth not always but that some space is required unto the collection of such a quantity which by such a vehemency may break through the Air and therefore because that Exhalations are more continual in the Air and the motion is less impeded there the calm in the Ocean is less discovered although that it be not wholly removed Proposition XIII Why no Wind bloweth perpendicularly from the Air unto the places of the Earth Concerning this question See Aristotle lib. 2. chap. 9. of Meteors Aristotle in his Second Book Chap. 9. of Meteors treateth very absurdly so that the Peripateticks are not agreeing concerning his Opinion neither shall I in this place relate their Sentiments The cause seemeth easily to be explained viz. that the Air being thrust downwards towards the Center of the Earth cannot break through this way by reason that other vapours are expelled or born upwards and therefore the overmuch resistance of the Air which is directly scituated under the Air moved causeth the protrusion to be made to the sides of the place in which the violence beginneth Which is therefore the more probable seeing that the matter of the Wind is for the most part more light than that Air and that is more rarified than that which is more near unto the Earth Proposition XIV Why Westerly-winds are less frequent than Easterly-winds See Proposition 10. The cause of this is manifest from the Tenth Proposition where we have made the Sun to be the first cause of Winds who so rarifieth the Air proceeding from the East to the West and therefore the Air is more thrust towards the West Therefore that this general cause may be impeded of necessity very many Exhalations must consist in the Western quarters which doth happen less frequently Proposition XV. Why the Northern and Eastern-winds are more impetuous and stormy and on the contrary the Southern and Western more relaxed and weak The Northern and Eastern Winds more stormy than the Southern and VVestern The cause is by reason that the Northern Air is more thick by reason of Cold and the Southern in our Zone by reason of the greater dissipation caused by the Sun and Heat is more rarified Now by how much the Air is more rarified by so much the lesser is it carried with an impetuous force Yet you must know that the South-winds are cold dry and violent in the Temperate Zone or the Artick Zone opposed to ours no less than the Northern-winds are unto us but the Eastern-wind is more rigid or more intense for another cause viz. because that it ariseth for the most part from the refraction of the Air made by the Sun which being continually carried from the East to the West the Air also is thrust forwards with the greater violence from the East to the West But it is probable that other causes may accede that may either help or obstruct that violence Proposition XVI Why the Southernly and Westernly-winds are found more hot than the Easternly and Northernly which have a wonderful power of causing Cold in respect of them The Southern and VVestern Winds are found more hot than the Easternly and VVesternly So this Question is wont vulgarly to be propounded yet we must know that in must not generally be understood of all places but only concerning the places of our Zone For in the other temperate Zone scituated towards the South from the Aequator the contrary holdeth true because that in these places the Northern-winds are hot or warm and the Southern are found more cold And so the nature of the thing and the condition of the cause required For the reason why the South-wind is discovered more warm to us and the North more cold proceedeth hence viz. that the South-winds come from a quarter and places more near unto the torrid Zone or way of the Sun but the Northern places more remote from that way of the Sun that is from more cold places But the contrary is found in places scituated towards the Antartick Pole from the Aequator because that the Northern-winds approach to them from the way of the Sun the Southern from the places more near the Pole But as concerning the Eastern and Western-winds I must answer otherwise neither doth that diversity of the places of our Zone and that of the opposite here take place Therefore first it is said in the preceding Proposition that the Western-winds are less frequent in all places the cause of which is the same with that by reason of which the Occidental winds are discovered more warm viz. because that for the most part they blow in the Night and after the setting of the Sun where the Air that is thrust forwards towards our place is more calid or less frigid than the Air of our place which is more remote from the West than that which lieth between the Sun and our place There is also another cause which also is of force in the difference between the Northern and Southern-winds viz. that the Western-winds blow with less violence and not so intense but with some relaxation Now it is known that any Air or Wind is discovered so much the more cold by how much it bloweth with the greater or more intense force although in truth it be no hotter or colder which is evident by our expiration which we can exhale either cold or hot Proposition XVII Why Mariners from the sight of a Cloud especially such a one that is of a pale or duskish colour predict a wind from that quarter also to declare the other signs of future winds Mariners from the sight of a Cloud predict a Wind from that quarter A twofold Reason may be rendred for either Clouds of that colour do shew that by and by they shall be dissipated and dissolved into Blasts or else the Clouds sinking by their own weight and segregated from other Clouds press down the Air beneath them and so cause it to blow Concerning the peculiar Clouds termed by the Dutch the Bulls-eye see the following Chapter 1. The Sun appearing spotted in his rising and lying obscured under a pale or black Cloud foretelleth either showers or winds 2. If that the Sun at his rising appeareth concave so that it shineth
all places almost in the Parallels of the 10 deg even unto the 30 deg North. After the same manner beyond the Tropick of Capricorn in the Sea between the Promontory of Good-hope and Brazile the South-East wind bloweth even unto the 30 deg of Latitude that is 7 degrees beyond the Torrid Zone towards the South and that through the whole year And although as we have said that this general wind is not discovered on all Coasts much less in Mediterranean places yet in some it is sufficiently observable So on the Coasts of Brazile Easterly unto the Coasts of Loango the South-East is a Quotidian wind although that other winds do admin themselves There is a threefold Cause of this continual general wind alledged by Modern Philosophers for both it and the Torrid Zone were unknown to the Antients who have not so much as mentioned it Some Determine that the Sun is the cause of this wind blowing from the East to the West by reason that by its great faculty it rarifyeth the Air in the Torrid Zone and so it thrusteth it forwards from the East to the West seeing that the Sun it self goeth this way Some and those of the Opinion of Pythagoras that Determined the Heaven to stand still and the Earth to moved round some of them I say supposed this general wind to Proceed from hence viz. that whilst the Earth is moved round and the Air with it this less followeth the motion of the Earth but is somewhat more slower to motion and therefore whilst that we are carried with the Earth from the West to the East the Air moved with less celerity to the same quarter seemeth to meet us and to be moved from the East to the West when that yet we do rather meet it See Des Cartes in his 222 Proposition of his Principels Des Cartes alledgeth the third Cause and that altogether new in the 222 Proposition in his Principles Where he endeavoureth to shew that the Moon causeth this motion as well as the motion of the Sea from the East to the West But because that his Opinion cannot be understood except that all his Philosophical Hypotheses should be Explained therefore we shall say nothing concerning it here especially seeing that we shall shew in another place that that Cause is not true I approve of the first Cause the second seemeth therefore not to be received because that many Copernicans approve not of it and no reason can be given why this wind should be found to blow only between the Tropicks or to the 30 deg of Latitude and not in the whole temperate Zone Proposition III. Some Winds are Periodical and fixed others wandering and Erratick Some winds fixed others wandering Those are termed fixed and periodical which blow on certain daies and then cease for a certain number of daies until that they begin to blow again Some return in the space of half a year othersome are Monthly which return in the interval of one or two Months Also the fixed winds are otherwise subdivided viz. some when that they begin to blow continue for some Months others for half a year others for a Month others for a few daies Amongst these those are chiefly observed by Mariners which blow for some Months in certain places of the Sea and they call these winds as also the times wherein such winds blow Motions or Moussons And such Motions are more especially notable in the Indian Ocean from Africa to the Philippine Isles although that they be not wanting in other places there is a very great moment to be placed in the observation of these Motions for Seamen ought to choose the time of them for the Voyage that they intend to that same quarter or that which is collateral unto which that wind bloweth neither to undertake a Voyage to the quarter of this Motion but to expect the contrary Motion For in the parts of the Indian Ocean where that one wind ceaseth to blow for some Months another succeedeth contrary to the former and continueth with the same constancy until that it hath compleated its time and therefore they call these Contrary Motions They term those the time of the mutation of those Motions which intercede between the end of one Mousson and the begining of the contrary For one Motion ceasing another doth not presently begin to blow but some days fall between some times more sometimes fewer also more in some places and fewer in other some And in these intermedial daies in which no certain Motion bloweth the wind is variable the calm dangerous and for the most part the Sea is tossed with uncertain waves and sudden Tempests arise some of these Motions return twice in a year but not with the same vehemency whence Mariners term the one the great Motion the other the lesser 1. In that part of the Atlantick Ocean that lyeth in the Torrid Zone as also that which is in the Temperate Zone the North wind perpetually bloweth in the Months of October Months most fit to taka a Voyage from Europe to India November and January And therefore these Months are chiefly fit to undertake a Voyage in from Europe to India that they may pass the Aequator by the help of those winds For it is manifest by experience that some Ships that have set Sail from Europe in March have arrived no sooner at Brazile than those that have set Sail in October viz. both of them have come thither in the Month of February being helped by the North wind Yet because that this wind is not so continual and certain therefore Mariners are not wont to call it a Motion Neither is it an easie matter to render a cause of this wind in these Months unless you will refer it to copious thick vapours or to a continnual pressure made from thick Clouds But those that have wintered in Nova Zembla testifie that there is a most frequent North wind all the time of the Winter where this effect cannot be ascribed unto the Sun rarifying the Air seeing that he lyeth obscured under the Horizon Yet I suppose that in general the Cause may proceed from the dissolving of Snows or gross Vapours or Clouds collected in the Winter in the Northern and Southern places especially on the Mountains Which I am induced to believe by this Argument more especially because that these Motions blow for the most part from the North and South quarters or the Collateral unto them Therefore by reason that Snow and thick Clouds are dissolved in the Northern places by the Sun especially in that half of the year in which he passeth through the North part of the Ecliptick therefore those Motions shall then be Northernly After the same manner in the Southern or Antartick places for the other half of the year the Sun dissolveth the Snow and the thicker Clouds therefore then the Motion shall be discovered Southerly Now that these Motions blow more from the Sea in the Collateral quarters
distance from the place assumed the Spring when he goeth from a point of moderate distance towards the very Vertex of the Pole or to the point of the Ecliptick which is Vertical to the place or to the Parallel of the place the Summer where the Sun goeth from this other point of middle distance to a point of greatest distance that is the first degree of Capricorn or Cancer 2. In the places of the Aequator it self the Sun no day of the year remaineth above the Horizon more or less hours than twelve and so many beneath the Horizon In other places of the Torrid Zone one hour or an hour and an half at the most viz. in the extream places of this Zone about the Tropicks of Cancer and Capricorn when the day is at the longest the Sun remaineth above the Horizon twelve hours and in the shortest day about eleven hours and in the intermedial days that time of the stay of the Sum above and beneath the Horizon doth not much differ from twelve hours And therefore this is the cause that the nights are not without cold and the heat of the day continueth not long about the eveningtide 3. In the night time the Sun is profoundly depressed beneath the Horizon for that he illustrateth the Air with none of his rayes nay not reflex This is the cause that most dark nights are there and the cold of the night is augmented the Air is condensed and contracteth it self and being cold it descends towards the earth by its own ponderosity Moreover in a very short time about the space of half an hour before the rising of the Sun and after his setting those places have the light and heat of the Twilight 4 The Moon almost after the same manner as the Sun ascends directly from the Horizon towards the Meridian of those places yet a little more obliquely because it departeth from the Ecliptick and therefore towards the Torrid Zone about five degrees and it remaineth after the same manner as the Sun a little above twelve hours above the Horizon and is depressed beneath it almost so many hours and that profoundly as we have spoken of the Sun Therefore with her direct rayes or those near to the perpendicular she will augment the warmness of the night especially when she is Vertical to any place and diminish it by her recess but by reason of her short stay above the Horizon the effect of it is little discerned in any place except when it is Vertical to it 5. All the Stars arise and set in places nigh the Aequator but those Stars which are near the Pole in places more remote from the Aequator do not arise and those are but very few and therefore they can cause little heat and light and that also insensible in the Air. 6. In many places of the Torrid Zone as in India and its Isles in the Tongue of Africa and in Mexico the earth is Sulphureous which sendeth forth more calid vapours whence it communicateth a certain heat to the Air and a peculiar property In some places it is sandy as in the North part of Africa lying in the Torrid Zone in part of Lybia and the Land of the Negroes in many places of Arabia in Peru and in the places between Peru and Brazilia whence in these places a very great heat is raised by the Sun because the particles of the Sand do very long retain the heat received from the Sun and soon communicate the same to the vicine Air. In other places the Rivers are many and in those Sandy ones few there are many in Abyssine in Guiney Congo India and in Brazilia hence humid vapours are raised which do very much blunt the force of the Suns rayes and render his heat more tolerable 7. The most places of the Torrid Zone have the Sea adjacent as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa Guiney Brazilia Peru Mexico some places of the Torrid Zone are Mediterranean as the more inward Africa the Regions between Peru and Brazilia whence it cometh to pass that in those places the heat and drought is greater and in some or most of them the Air is more moist and less fervent then can be caused by the Sun except other causes happen 8. Most of the Regions of the Torrid Zone seeing that they are almost encompassed by the Sea have in the middle places more or lesser ridges of exceeding high Mountains as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa and Peru These rows of Mountains do very much vary the light heat and rayes of those places somewhere they hinder the Oriental rayes of the Sun otherwhere the Occidental Moreover the humid vapours condensed in the Air are moved to the Vertices of these Mountains as we have shewed in the twentieth Chapter whence rains and clouds proceed by which the heat and light of the Sun is very much obstructed and the Celestial cause of the Seasons is disturbed There are few of the places of the Torrid Zone which want those ridges as the inward Africa Mexico and the like 9. The effects of the Winds in the Torrid Zone are various and notable for a general wind blowing from the side Plagas of the East or from the East continually towards the West refrigerateth the Maritim places which regard the East as Brazilia the Oriental Coast of Africa but not so to those towards the West as Guiney Congo Angola and the Coasts of Peru. Some winds are appropriated as the South in Peru which winds dispel vapours towards the Plaga in which they blow Some are fixed winds of which we have largely treated in the one and twentieth Chapter Now these winds do very much disturb the Celestial cause of the Seasons for they are almost as equally constant and observe order as the motions of the Heaven it self They bring down the Air compel the vapours towards the tops of the Mountains and by other Modes alter the Seasons Ten Anniversary rains are in many places of the Torrid Zone and take away the Celestial cause seeing that they are as equally constant as the motion of the Sun it self For those err who suppose that this our Sublunary Orb observeth all with inconstancy and without order and that the Celestial only have a constant motion Seeing that the causes hitherto spoken of are so various to be able to cause the heat and the properties of the Seasons and in one place some are from other causes in another others are of force or concur in divers Seasons of the year or mutually impede one another hence we discover why the cause and condition of the Seasons of the Torrid Zone is so various Proposition XI How the Spring Summer Autumn and Winter Terrestrial do behave themselves and in what Months of the year they commence in the divers places of the Torrid Zone Of the beginning of the Seasons in places in the Torrid Zone We have said before and especially in the second Proposition that
the Brazilians in the months of October and February and striketh the Earth with reflex raies at most acute Angles Which diversity of these Regions promiseth the Inhabitants perpetual health by reason of the often calms and the Air quelling all noxious heats Hence it is easy to dollect that the seasons of the year do not so much depend immediately on the Sun and his motion as on the species of the Winds the diversity of aspects of the Stars the quality and peculiar scituation of the Region Moreover in these Mediterranean Regions towards the West the nights are more cold than in the Maritim so much some times that the Frost seizeth on the very hairs of the Peoples In the same months from the East about the Ocean is Summer and Siccity No Islands are opposite to Brazilia from the West beyond the ridges of the Mountains and the Marshes of Brazilia is the Winter Fogs and Rain Oftentimes the Heavens may be seen covered with vast Clouds from the East towards the West but those again very thin except in the days of the Rain the Sun both rising and setting may be beheld with fixed eyes for there is a wonderful serenity on every side especially towards the evening which never afordeth any Vapours or Clouds to the succeeding Moon but renders the night so clear that the old and new Moon may be seen in one and the same day and letters may be well read it the quarter Moon The Aether in respect of the diversity of the Planets other inseriour causes acceding receiveth its distemperature for the Heaven about evening is bright with Lightning without Thunder in the most dry and serene season The drops of Rain are very great and fall with great violence which is wont to be preceeded by a suffocative warmness The Dew here is more fruitful than that of Europe being impregnated with much Winter and therefore is more penetrating and thin especially in Summer which is manifest in all Mettals and in Iron especially which it easily eateth up without the assistance of any Clouds The Meadows and open Fields do less wax green in the Summer but more especially in the Pluvial months although the Earth then seemed somewhat more sad to the Inhabitants and the places unfit for Tillage afford Pasture See Piso All the Lands of Brazilia arise into moderate and pleasant Hills there are no Mountains of any great hight in the Coasts but yet some are discovered afar off in the Solitudes among the barren hills yet not every where but with some intervals of Miles the Valleys are interposed every one irrigated with some small Rivers and for that reason are not only fertil in the pluvial months but also in those of the Summer The Hills in the Summer months are steril by reason of the heat of the Sun so that they wither and Grass doth not only die on them but sometimes the Trees also It very seldom raineth throughout the whole day and night and for some continual days very seldom without intermission the Pluvial months do a little differ In the year 1640. as Marriners have observed there were 7 Pluvial months viz February March April May June July and August But most and almost continually from April May and June In the year 1642. the most Pluvial months six viz. March April May June July and August But the account of the other years was not much different Now these observations are to be taken only for one place and not for all the places in Brazilia Hence it is manifest that the Summer and Winter of Brazilia answereth to the Celestial account seeing that in the greatest distance of the Sun they have Rain and in the least and moderate towards the South they have heat Yet there are not a few irregularities the cause of which are to be sought from the scituation of the Winds and Earth The six rainy months are May June July August September and October 18. This is enough for the Southern America in the Northern it is otherwise For in the Province of Nicaragua it raineth for six months and the other six months it is Summer and dry weather so that passengers may travel in the night This now is contrary to the Celestial course for in the wet months for in May June and so on to November the Sun is vertical or near the Vertex unto these places so that then they should have Summer and Siccity and not Rain In November and December it is very distant therefore they should there have Rain Thus have we declared the Seasons of the chief places of the whole Torrid Zone from which being compared one with another we collect 1. That in some places the cold is scarse sensible in some part of the year and therefore the Winter is rather to be defined by the Rains than by cold in those places 2. In some places the cold is sufficiently sensible 3. In the night time especially in the last quarter the Air is discovered to be very cold by reason of the depression of the Sun beneath the Horizon 4. That it is not the least cause of the tolerable heat and that those Regions are inhabited viz. that no days are there long but almost equal to the night for if the days were as long there the Sun remaining above the Horizon as in the places of the Temperate and Frigid Zones then doubtless they would be uninhabited 5. That the Winds do much diminish the heat of the Sun 6. That places which ly in one and the same Climate have the Summer and Winter in divers times although they be very near to one another 7. That those places which have Siccity and Humidity contrary to the access and recess of the Sun are so scituated that on the East they have Ridges of Mountains and that they regard the West Peru excepted 8. That the Seasons observe no certain rule in the places of the Torrid Zone 9. That although most of the Inhabitants divide the year into two Seasons which is likewise observed by many Writers to wit a Pluvial and Dry Season yet it may aptly be divided into four so that they may not only have a Summer and a Winter but also a Spring and an Autumn For as in our parts the Spring approacheth near the nature of Summer and the Autumn of Winter so also the dry places of the Torrid Zone may be divided 10. And lastly in some places there is a continual Harvest in some only in two parts of the year and in others only in one part of the year Proposition XII To shew how the four Seasons of the year are made c. in the places of the Temperate Zones Of the seasons of the year in places lying in the Temperate Zones 1. In these places that cause which we have placed in the first place amongst the causes of the Seasons in the first Proposition of this Chapter is so potent in respect of the other causes that that
are under the 52 degree of South Latitude yet they have no very hot Summer So that the Hollanders in the month of January when there should be an hot Summer found a great glade of Ice in the Creek of one of their Seas In the Mountains of the adjacent Coasts Snow is discovered all the Summer long and it is observed that in almost all the Regions of the South Temperate Zone they have a Cold far more intense in Winter and a violency of Rain and a less heat in Summer than the parts of our Northern Temperate Zone Whether this be the cause that the Sun makes a longer stay and the slower progress in the Semicircle of the Northern Zodiac than in the Southern is to be questioned In the Neighbouring Province of Peru which they call La Valla Imperial in the Province of Potosi they find so great a Cold that for four miles circumference there groweth nothing The season of Chili In the Kingdom of Chili which extendeth it self from 30 degrees of South Latitude to 50 degrees the Spring beginneth in the months of August sooner than the Celestial Account admitteth and endeth in the middle of November And from the middle of November Summer beginneth even to the middle of February from whence Autumn leadeth on to the middle of May which the Winter succedeth which is very violent and dispoileth the Trees of their Blossoms and scattereth a deep Snow with a vehement Frost which yet is discovered by the Sun except which is very seldom that the Sun appeareth not but the Snow rarely falleth in the Vallies for although it falls in great abundance and is heaped up so high that it ascends the tops of Mountains and is heaped together in the vacuity of the Mountains as in so many wells and indure almost the whole year yet being there dissolved they flow into the Rivers and Torrents which run through the Vallies with a great force even to the Sea to the great enrichment of the Grounds But although here it Snow not except rarely in the Plains yet it maketh so excessive a Frost that the like is scarcely felt in many parts of Europe which happeneth partly from the Altitude of the Pole partly from the propinquity of the Mountains from which descend so subtile and penetrating Winds that sometimes they are unsufferable whence it cometh to pass that the Maritim parts are more temperate He that is Studious may collect other differences of Region under the same Climate or in the vicine Climates from Writers for example that in England the Air is not so cold as in Holland so that they pen not up their Heards in the Winter Betwen Siberia and Tartaria in a place seated not far from the Frigid Zone in the end of our Temperate are said to be plesant Fields and rich Pastures almost no cold seeing that they scarce feel Winter where by the command of the Duke of Moscovia the City Tooru is built which is at this day so much encreased that it is able to repell the Assaults of the Tartars The Island of Japan In Japan the Winter is Cold Snowy Ruiny when yet other Regions of Europe and Asia lying under the same Climate have far lesser Winter the cause is because that Japan consists of many Islands disjoyned by a small Euripus and that it also lyeth in the middle of the Ocean America very hot in the Summer In Armenia and the adjoyning places there is great heat in Summer because it lieth amongst Mountains here and there mixed with Fields hence the more rich in some places in Summer remove to the tops of the Mountains and remain there for some months but the meaner sort in the day time defend themselves in the Mountains from the near and about eventide do descend to the lower ground Proposition XIII To declare how in places in the Frigid Zone the four Seasons of the year have themselves with the light Of the places in the Frigid Zone The cause of those Seasons with the light proposed in the entrance of this Chapter thus stands in the Frigid Zone 1. The Center of the Sun for some days or months as the place is either nearer or remote from the Pole doth not arise above the Horizon and for so many days setteth not 2. In those days when he is above the Horizon he only illustrateth those places with his oblique raies because he is not much elevated above the Horizon but moveth round it because those places are over much removed from the way of the Sun 3. The Sun is not deeply depressed beneath the Horizon yea in places near the Polary Circle or Artick Pole although the Center of the Sun doth not arise yet part of his Skirt ariseth and is beheld for some days above the Horizon before the Center it self ariseth by reason that the half Sun possesseth 15 minutes in the Heaven For example let us take those places whose distance is from the Aequator 67 degrees towards the Pole Artick let the Pole be elevated according to this Latitude and in the Meridian Crena of the Horizon you shall see that the degrees of the Ecliptick do not arise from the 19th degree of Sagittarius to the 11 of Capricorn that is the Center of the Sun being in that Arch doth not arise for 24 days viz. from the 10th of December to the 4th of January and yet part of the Skirt of the Sun for that whole time shall be above the Horizon to wit on the 21 of December the Limbus glittereth the Horizon but on the 10 of December as also on the first of January half the Sun shall be above the Horizon and half beneath because the Center is then in the Horizon But the whole Sun shall be elevated above the Horizon when the Center of the Sun shall hold the 14 degree of Capricorn that is about the 4 day of January also the whole shall afterwards appear when his Center shall possess the 16 degree of Sagittarius that is about the 7 of December But in places where the elevation of the Pole is 70 or 75 degrees there this difference between the Oriental Limbus and the Oriental Center is very little so that the Limbus or Skirt scarcely anticipateth the rise of the Center of the Sun one day or half a day From this smallest of depression it followeth also that they enjoy the light of the Crepusculum many hours before the rising and after the setting of the Sun and although the Sun ariseth not yet in all or many of the hours of the day they have light in the Air. There is also another cause See Chap. 19. which maketh the Sun first to be seen before that he is elevated above the Horizon For thence it cometh to pass that not only the Sun is seen before he is elevated above the Horizon and before the Raies can directly come from him to the Eye but also that the light of the Twilight sooner illustrateth
vicine place is to be found whereby it may come unto those Northern Regions Seeing that therefore this flux is perpetual neither doth the water come by a manifest way unto those Regions whence the flux is made therefore it seemeth necessary to conclude that the waters come through subterraneous passages unto those Northern Regions and so there to be effused from the holes of the Channel as from a spring and that the water moveth hence towards the South There falleth in another cause taken from the former For the water of the Ocean in the Torrid Zone is more heavy than that in the Northern places by reason of the great abundance of Salt as we have proved in the Eighth and Twelfth Proposition Therefore the water or Ocean in the Torrid Zone doth more press through the Orifices of the Subterranean passages than in the Northern places and therefore in these places the water less resisting suffereth the water to flow from the Orifices of the Channels Unto this I answer That that flux of the Ocean is not only from the North as the Objection seemeth to inferr and as some especially the Ancients conceived of it who would have the water to flow in four Channels from the very Pole as also some Geographical Maps do exhibit it neither is it continual but is observed by reason of the frequency of Northern Winds moreover the great and perpetual abundance of Snow and Rain in those places augmenteth the water and causeth it to flow towards the South Add likewise that in other parts another motion of the Ocean is found concerning which see the following Chapter 3. It seemeth not absurd but rather most true that all the Fountains of Rivers taken together disburthening themselves into the Ocean are the very Fountains of the Ocean For seeing that in perpetual progress of time so great an abundance of water floweth from them into the Ocean questionless the water cometh from the Ocean to the very Springs and Channels of the Rivers partly through the Subterranean passages and partly by Rains 4. It may seem to prove that the Fountains of the Ocean may be in the very Channel because that in the bottom of the Ocean in some parts sweet or fresh water is found which could not be but by some Fountains flowing in the bottom Linschaten relateth that in Ormus fresh water is drawn by divers in the Ocean at the depth of four or five Orgya and the like Fountains are found in other parts of the Ocean and Bays Unto this I answer That few such Springs have yet been found which suffice not the vast Ocean Neither do we dispute concerning these Fountains as we have said before Hence it is manifest that in some sort it is true and we may well say that the Ocean hath Springs but not in that sense that we are wont to speak concerning the Springs of Rivers and in which we would have our Proposition to be taken Hence also it is manifest what we ought to think concerning that Question viz. Whether the Sea is always one and the same and perpetually so remaineth or whether it be another thing whose parts are perpetually consumed and generated again Proposition VIII The saltness of the Waters proceedeth from the particles of Salt which are mixed with it but whence they may exist or are so augmented is the doubt Of the Saltness of the Sea-water Experlence proveth the first member of the Proposition by which it is commonly known that Salt is made of Sea-water by decoction of the water or by the heat of the Sun or the fervour of the Fire In Germany and other places the water is separated by the help of the Fire In France the greater heat of the Sun performeth the same the Ocean being let into certain Trenches made in which in the space of some Months the water being exhaled by the force of the Sun Of Salt and of what made concreted and hard Salt is found On the shoars of many Regions as of England and other parts plenty of Bay-Salt is found the Sea-water continually overflowing those shoars leaveth daily some particles or humors from which the water exhaleth and concrete Salt is left whose blackness is taken away by boyling although it be washed away and dissolved from many Coasts by the violence of the Ocean which is the cause that it is not found on all Coasts Seeing therefore that this Experiment is common Aristotle had small reason to alledge a false Experiment concerning a waxen Vessel let down into the Sea Hence it is manifest that the proximate cause of the Saltness of the Sea-water or the true subject of this saltness is the Saline particles which are contained in that water Therefore the Aristotelians with their Master spake improperly and obscuredly without cause when they defend and say That the saltness of the Sea proceedeth from the adustion of the Sea caused by the Sun or from the adust particles But of this more anon The chief difficulty and controversie is concerning the other member of the Proposition Whence these Salt particles of the Ocean exist Aristotle supposeth that dry exhalations or fumes all which he saith are of an adust and Saline nature elevated from the Earth are mixed with humid vapours and when that these have met together in Rain they fall with these into the Sea and that thence proceedeth the saltness and Salt particles in the Sea See Aristotle lib. 2. chap. 7. and on this account he seemeth to defend this Opinion because that from thence he may render a reason why the Sea is always salt But other Peripateticks will have it and so do endeavour to draw Aristotle to their part that this saltness is in the Sea it self by reason that it is perpetually scorched by the heat of the Sun a sign of which is that the water is found by so much the less salt by how much it is more deep or remote from the superficies for in the superficies we discover it to be most salt Both these Opinions are obstructed with great difficulties and absurdities so that it seemeth wonderful that the minds of Philosophers and Learned men could acquiesce in them First the opinion of Aristotle is thus obstructed that Salt-rain should be found in the Ocean which never yet was found to be void of all tast of salt Secondly the Sea should be less salt when it raineth not for a long time the contrary of which yet is found The other Opinion hath these difficulties 1. It is false that the waters of the Ocean are found the less salt by how much they are nigh to the bottom for there are few places viz. in those bottoms where Springs of fresh water do flow 2. Experience testifieth that fresh water although long exposed to the Sun or heat of the Fire yet doth not become salt This Objection Scaliger endeavoureth to avoid by an over-nice subtilty for he saith that this hapneth in these Observations by reason of
the exiguity of the water which doth not grow thick but resolveth For although you take a great quantity of water and that you provoke with a light and gentle fire that the resolution may be impeded yet the water acquireth no salt tast 3. Lakes and Marshes though heated by the Sun yet wax not salt This Objection also Scaliger endeavoureth to avoid saying that this hapneth by the succession of fresh water And the same is found in those standing Pools and Lakes which only proceed from Rain or Snow dissolved where there is no place for that refuge of succession for those Lakes are rather dried when that it raineth not for a long space than turned into Salt or rendred salt Therefore rejecting those false Opinions concerning the cause and original of Salt in the Ocean let us lay hold of one of the most probable Opinions with little or no difficulty in it viz. 1. That these particles are Coeternal with the very Ocean and therefore we should no more dispute concerning their original than concerning the original of the Ocean it self the Earth yea and of the original and generation of the World 2. If that this Opinion be less complacent we may make choice of another viz. that these salt particles are here and there pulled from the Earth and so dissolved into water Now it is certain that there are many saline Mountains or Rocks in the bosom of the Sea Isle of Ormus a salt Rock The whole Isle of Ormus is nothing else but a white and hard Salt of which they make the Walls of their Houses and therefore no Fountain of fresh water is found in that Isle And none can be ignorant how that many mines of Salt are found on the Land and we have related concerning some in the Eleventh Chapter but we need not particulars Let us consider the whole Earth The greatest part of the Earth hath much Salt in it the greatest part of which is nothing else but a Salt for it hath its consistency from Salt for the Chymical Philosophers do rightly prove that the consistency and compaction of every thing proceedeth from Salt and Experience is answerable to the Assertion for if that you take an hard piece of Earth and burn it to ashes much Salt will be found in it Nothing can be alledged against this Opinion that is of any value and is not easily refuted for some say that it is impossible that those salt parts of the Earth should perpetually suffice and should not at some time or other be consumed by the water of the Ocean which continually taketh away some part of them Unto this I answer That the Salt of the Ocean is not consumed in so great abundance that it should stand in need of much instauration and if that any be consumed yet notwithstanding that is laid up in another place seeing that it is not removed out of the Earth Proposition IX Whether that Water be the fresher in the Ocean by how much it is nigher the bottom and why in some parts of the Ocean fresh Water is found in the bottom Of the freshness of Water in the Sea Unto the first I Answer That experience doth not testifie concerning that sweetness but in some places of which the other Question speaketh that in these places in the bottom of the Sea are Fountains of fresh water I have sufficiently said for it cannot naturally be that the more Salt-water should exist above water less Salt seeing that that is more heavy Those places of the Sea where fresh water is found to spring at the bottom may be collected by those that are studious from the Writers of Geography Proposition X. The Water of the Ocean becometh less salt by how much it is nearer the Poles and on the contrary the more salt by how much it is more near the Aequator or Torrid Zone Although this may be understood of most parts of the Ocean yet the Proposition admitteth of some exceptions The cause of this inequality in saltness is sixfold The Causes of the inequality of the saltness of the Sea in different places 1. That the heat of the Sun in the Torrid Zone lifteth up more vapours from the Ocean into the Clouds than in the Northern places which are the vapours of fresh-water because that the particles of Salt by reason of their gravity are not so easily lifted up Seeing therefore that from the Water of the Ocean of the Torrid Zone or where the place is more near the Torrid Zone so much the vapours are separated by the heat of the Sun thence it cometh to pass that the water that is lest is found more salt there than in the Northern places where there is not so much fresh-water separated by reason of the weak heat of the Sun The 2d Cause 2. The second Cause is the heat or cold of the water for the same numerical water or salt meat as also pickled meat sauce and the like afford a more sensible saltness to the tast when they are eaten hot than when cold for the heat or particles of the fire do move and render the particles of the salt contained in such meat more acute and separates them from the admixtures whence they bite and prick the Tongue more sharply Now because the water of the Ocean is the more hot by how much it is nigher the Aequator or the parallels of the Sun at every day and contrariwise the more cold by how much it is more near the Pole thence it followeth that waters though they should contain the same quantity of salt yet they must seem and appear so much the salter to the tast by how much they are nearer to the Torrid Zone and by how much they are more near the Pole by so much they have less sensible Salt The 3d Cause 3. The third Cause is the more or less quantity of Salt in the diverse parts of the Channel of the Ocean for as we find in the parts of the Earth that there are not pits of Salt in them all neither where they are found is there the like quantity of Salt must be held concerning the part of the Earth that the Sea washeth or covereth that is the Channel or the Shoars where there is therefore most quantity of Salt or Mineral in the bottom or shoar of the Ocean there the water is more salt because that it is impregnated with a greater quantity of Salt So the Isle of Ormus consisteth all of Salt therefore the adjacent Ocean hath very Salt waters But whether there be greater plenty of Salt in the Channel and shoars of the Ocean in the Torrid Zone or more saline Mines than in the North is very doubtful by reason of the want of observation yet it seemeth probable unto some that there is greater quantity of Salt in those places by reason of the greater heat of the Sun by which the parts of the water are separated from the Terrestrial and
Salt but this is a deceitful sign The 4th Cause 4. The fourth Cause of the unequal saltness is the frequency or scarcity of Rains unto which we may add Snow and in the Northern places Snow and Rain is frequent in the places of the Torrid Zone they are less frequent in some parts of the year and in othersome they are almost continual And therefore in these places in the pluvial Months the water of the Ocean is not so salt on the shoar and hath less Salt in it than in the dry Months Yea in many Regions of the Coast of Malabar the Ocean is fresh in the pluvial Months by reason of the abundance of water that floweth from the top of the Mountain Gatis and falleth into the Sea for this very reason in divers Seasons of the year the same Ocean is of a various saltness yet because in the Northern places the Rains and Snows are continual throughout the whole year therefore this Sea is less salt than in the Torrid Zone The 5th Cause 5. The fifth Cause is the dissimilary solution or unequal faculty of the Water to dissolve this Salt and unite it to its self for hot water sooner uniteth Salt unto it self than cold Water although therefore in the Northern places of the Ocean the shoars and Channels of the same contain more or the like quantity of Salt that those places of the Torrid Zone do yet because the water is there more cold it is not so able to dissolve and unite the Salt to it self so subtily us the water in the Torrid Zone which is more hot The 6th Cause 6. The sixth cause is the exoneration of many and great Rivers into the Sea but this cause only taketh place in the parts of the Ocean that are vicine to the shoars but is not discovered in the remote parts So Mariners affirm that the Ocean on the Coast of Brasilia where the Silver-River disburtheneth it self loseth it saltness and affordeth fresh waters fifteen miles distant from the shoar The same is observed of the African Ocean on the Coasts of Congi where the River Zaire exonerateth it self and of many more Rivers Unto these add runing Fountains in some parts of the bottom of the Ocean These are the Causes which seem to concur to the variety and diversity of saltness in divers parts of the Ocean from which the saltness of every one of the Seas may be explained From whence also it is easy to give an account why the water of the German and Northern Ocean is less apt to separate Salt from it self by coction than the water of the Spanish Ocean the Canary Isles and that of Cape Verd whence the Dutch fetch Salt in great abundance and transport it into the Northern Regions viz. this Ocean is more near the Torrid Zone and receiveth water from the Ocean of the Torrid Zone the other is more remote from the Frigid Zone yet I cannot deny the constitution of the Channels themselves to be more or less saline The Sea-water at Guinee in the Ethiopick Ocean affordeth Salt at one coction as white as snow such as neither the Spanish Ocean nor any other in Europe do produce at one coction or boyling Proposition XI Why Rain-water in the middle of the Ocean is found sweet but the water which we separate from the Marine or Salt-water either by decoction or distillation is yet notwithstanding found salt when yet the Rain-water proceedeth from the Vapours exhaled from the Sea Fresh-water abstracted from Salt-water The Learned Chymists or true Naturalists have hitherto laboured in vain that they might find out an Art by which they might distill and abstract fresh water from the water of the Ocean which would be of great advantage but as yet their Labours have proved fruitless for although as well in the decoction as distillation Salt may be left in the bottom of the Vessel yet the water separated by decoction as well as distillation is yet found salt and not fit for men to drink which seemeth wonderful unto those that are ignorant of the cause Yet Chymistry that is true Philosophy hath taught the reason for by the benefit of this we know that there is a twofold salt in Bodies or two kinds of salt which although they agree in tast yet they much differ in other qualities one of these Artists term fixed the other volatile salt The fixed salt by reason of its gravity is not elevated in distillation but remaineth in the bottom of the Vessel but the volatile salt is full of spirit and indeed is nothing else but a most subtile spirit that is elevated by a very light fire and therefore in the distillation ascendeth with the fresh water and is more firmly united by reason of the subtilty of the Attoms neither is this volatile salt found only with fixed salt in Sea-water but almost in all bodies as Chymistry proveth by experience but in some in a greater and in othersome in a lesser quantity in a greater quantity in sharp tasted Herbs in a lesser in oily Herbs Therefore difficulty consisteth in the separation of this salt spirit or volatile salt from the water But why the pluvial water in the midst of the Sea is no less fresh than on the Land seeing that yet it is generated by abstraction of the exhalations of the Ocean caused by the fervour of the Sun or from some subterraneous fire which evaporation doth little differ from distillation The cause seemeth to be Fourfold 1. A slow operation by which the tenuous part is only elevated from the Ocean which although it containeth a saline volatile spirit yet it hath it in less quantity than if that this exhalation were caused by a more forcible heat 2. The long way that this vapour passeth through before that it arriveth unto that Region of the Air where it is condensated into rain in passage it is possible that the saline spirit is by degrees separated from the watery particles 3. The admixture of other watery particles existing in the air 4. A Refrigeration Coition and condensation of the vapour for these exhalations exhaled from the Ocean by degrees are more and more refrigerated and being conjoyned with other obvious and admixed vapours they condense into a more thick vapour or cloud in this Refrigeration and condensation or coition of the saline spirit with the fiery particles they fly into the more exalted part of the Air. Now why the same is not performed in distillation where the vapours exalted are also condensed the cause is 1. That by reason of the small passage the saline spirit is as yet over straitly conjoyned to the watery particles 2. That the vapour restrained in the vessel admitteth not a free passage to the evolant spirit Proposition XII Sea-water is more ponderous than fresh water and the water of one Sea is more heavy than another Sea water more heavy than fresh water The cause is manifest from what hath been said
number and almost all send forth springs Scaliger and others assert that this Caspian Sea is carried by a subterraneous passage into the Euxine Sea but he alledgeth no probation of it yet that may be a sign by reason that the Euxine Sea perpetually sendeth forth waters in great abundance through the Bosphorus which abundance of waters some think that it doth not receive from the Rivers but by a subterranean passage from the Caspian Sea But it seemeth not so to me to have any conjunction with the Sea and therefore I suppose it to be a Lake and so rather to be called than a Sea Now whence it was first generated is a greater difficulty Some say that great Mountains of Salts are found in its bottom and that thence it hath its saltness but the water they suppose to proceed from the multitude of Rivers that exonerate themselves into this Lake or Sea Yet although these waters make to the conservation of it yet I think it more probable that this Sea for some Ages since was conjoyned to the Ocean neither do I question but that the Euxine Sea will at length become a Lake for the same reason the Bosphorus being obstructed Proposition IX To make a Lake in a place if that it be possible Of making Lakes It may be done if that there be a River in the land adjoyning or that a Spring be found in the place and that the place be somewhat more depressed and low than in the adjacent places although small Lakes may be also made on the tops of Mountains therefore the place must be hallowed and the earth dug away unto so great a depth and amplitude as we require and its sides must be fenced with banks upheld by wood if need so require then an Inlett being made from the Channel of the river the water must be let in or if that a Fountain in that place affordeth a sufficient quantity of water there is no need of that inlett or aqueduct Proposition X. To take away or dry up a Lake Of drying up of Lakes That may be performed two ways 1. If the bottom of that Lake be higher or of almost an equal depression with the vicine place an Aqueduct being made the water will flow from the place or Lake and at length will render the bottom dry the heat of the Sun assisting and Earth being cast in 2. If that the bottom of the Lake be lower than the vicine place it must first be fenced with a trench in its whole circuit leaving only some Channels or open passages then making use of Water-mills the water must be expelled and drawn out and then the bottom must be covered with earth and dung and such seeds cast in which suddenly will take root as Mustard-seed Coleworts and the like By this mode the Dutch very well know how to drain Lakes and to make fruitful lands of them Proposition XI Marishes are of two sorts some are ouzey and consisting of a mixt substance as it were viz. of Water and Earth so that it will not suffer the footsteps of a man others have small standing Pools with small portions of dry land here and there Marishes are of two sorts Of the first sort are those that receive or send forth no Rivers such Marishes are in Holland Brabant where is the Marish de Peel and many in Westphalia to which some of the second sort are admixed But many of the second kind are found at the originals or springs of Rivers whence some are wont to call these Springs or Fountains Marishes as the Marishes of Tanais in Moscovia of the Nile c. Such Marishes also seem to be in Savolax a Province in Finland in a great tract of land also the Marishes of Enarack the Chelonides Marishes of Africa the Marishes of Chaldea through which the Euphrates doth pass These Marishes are frequently found in Woods and Desarts that are Ericose because that the rain which irrigateth those lanes and collecteth in its cavities is not attracted by the Sun by reason that the Leaves of Trees do repel its Rays Such kind of Marishes are found here and there in Germany and Moscovia Moreover these Marishes of the second sort are four-fold viz. some both receive and send forth Rivers some only receive some only send forth and some neither receive nor send forth The first sort are generated and conserved partly by occult springs and water effused before that it be brought to a certain Channel and also from a greater quantity of water than can possibly be brought through a Channel many of which sort are in Moscovia and Finland Marishes of the last kind probably are conserved and spring from rain and small springs Aristotle calleth the Palus Maeotis a Lake and that more rightly Proposition XII Marishes have a sulphurous bituminous and fat Earth This is discovered both from the black colour and from the Reeds which are generated from it Of the earth of Marishes and easily take fire as is found in Holland and other places The cause is by reason that such substances are contained in the raise of the earth where these Marishes do exist Yet all Marishes are not such but where the Earth is stony and hard there are no Marishes for where there is a soft earth there for a certain is a fat and sulphurous substance Proposition XIII To drain Marishes and Fens Of draining of Fens Although some Fens have an high profundity yet no more is required to drain them to such a depth which we may do if that we cause the water to flow away by some Channel or Aqueduct 2. If that after some weeks they have been dried by the Sun we cast in a great quantity of dry earth 3. If that we make a fire upon them and 4. If that we hinder water from flowing into them as rain and the like CHAP. XVI Of Rivers in General Proposition I. We comprehend in this Proposition the definitions necessary for this doctrine Of Rivers and their definition 1. A River is water flowing from a certain place of the Earth to another place in a long tract and within its Channel A Channel is that cavity in the Earth in which the water is contained which is more depressed and lower than the shore of that water 2. A Rivulet is a River that hath not the profundity and breadth as to admit of small laden Vessels 3. That is termed Amnis which admitteth of those Vessels but if they will bear moderate Vessels great ones laden then it is called by the general term of Fluvius and Flumen 4. That water is termed a Torrent which floweth from the Mountainous places with a violence 5. Where two Rivers meet that place is called a Confluence 6. A River or Rivulet which floweth from another is termed a Branch or Arm yet for the most part it is taken for such an arm which is lesser than the other part of the River Yet those are also frequently
commonly call them Spaws 1. They arise from the admixture of a Spirit of Vitriol Salt and Alom which Minerals being partly simple and partly more or less admixed with other Minerals are found in the cavities of the Earth especially in Iron We prove this to be the true cause of Acidula's and Spaws 1. By reason that almost every where where such Acid waters break out Mines of Vitriol Salt and Alom are found 2. Because the Spirits of Vitriol and Salt are Acid as also some Spirits of Sulphur as is evident from Chymistry 3. Because that from these kind of Acid waters no Acid body but Spirits is separated which are altogether like unto the Spirits of Vitriol and Salt 2. Great is the quantity of Acid waters or Spaws in divers Regions where Mines especially abound The cause is because that an Acid Sowr Spirit is almost in all Bodies by reason that we have shewed that it is Elementary in the Seventh Chapter and first Proposition it is found in all herbs and fruits The difference of Spaws 3. The difference of Spaws is found to be notable Some are found to be so sharp or sowr that men make use of them instead of Vinegar Such a Spring is found in Nicana a Province of Sicilia In Germany the Fountain at Elleboga is of a wonderful Acidity Other Acid Springs are termed Winy because that by their sharpness they come near the grateful tast of Wine amongst which that is famous which is in the Earldom of Catzenellebocen in Germany at the Town Schwalbach In the Province of Lyons in France at the Town of St. Baldomare is a Fountain termed Fontaine forte that is the strong Fountain it supplieth the want of Wine and if that one fourth part of it be mixed with Wine it will want nothing of the tast of Wine if it is poured on Flour it will presently ferment They can boil no Meat in it for by reason of its subtilty it flieth away It is very wholsom so that the Inhabitants seldom use a Physician In Aquitaine not far from the City Bessa is the like Winy sharp Spring unto the waters of which if that you only admix the sixth part of Wine you will imagine that you drink pure Wine without any admixture of water Nigh to Rome is an Alomy sharp Fountain which being mixed with Wine maketh a very grateful Drink Great is the number of Acid Springs in the Vpper Germany whereof some flow into the Danube and others into the Rhine Very many are in the forementioned Earldom of Catzenelleboch in the Province of Triers in Tirolis Rhaetia Vindelicia a noted ane is near Anderna called Heilbrun In the Province of Toledo in Spain near the Village Valentiola are Springs which at the bottom are found Acid and of a Winy tast and in the upper part sweet which Baccius thinketh to happen because that the Nitrous and Acid parts do subside and sink to the bottom But I suppose if that the Relation be true that it proceedeth from the subtilty of the Spirit which being brought to the superficies presently do expire Other Acid Fountains are astringent and contracting the palate which is a token of Iron particles or of the admixture of Vitriol as also of Alom The Water of Acid Fountains in Rainy and Cloudy weather is found less Acid which is a sign of an admixture of condensated Air. Also if that the water be exposed to heat or if it stand in an open Vessel for some hours or if it be carried a long Voyage not well covered in cold Vessels it presently loseth its Acidity which is a sign that the Acidity of them dependeth on a subtile Spirit Yet they also have Atoms and the very Vitriol Alom Iron Salt Gravel and the like This is proved from the matter that is discovered to adhere to the Conduit-pipes The Studious may collect Examples by reading of Authors At least two hundred Acid Springs or Riverets run into the Rhine but by reason of the subtilty of the Spirits nothing of acidity is discovered in the Rhine Do you demand why there are no Acid Fountains in the Northern places I suppose that cause to be the defect of Subterraneous heat and an over great condensation of the Earth as also for that cause it cometh to pass that little or no Gold is found in those Regions Proposition VIII To explain the generation of hot Springs termed Baths and the places of the more famous of them Of the generation of hot Springs or Baths A Spring in Izland is judged the most fervid of them all whose water little differeth from that which hath arrived to the highest degree of heat and boyling on the fire But Caronius writeth that in Japan there is a Spring so hot that no water can be brought to that degree of heat by the most vehement fire It floweth not continually but twice in a day for one hour with a great force of spirits and maketh a great Pool which another hath informed me to be called by the Natives Singacko that is Hell After those the hot Fountains or Baths of Baden in Helvetia are famous Then the Baths of Appona in Italy Of Vulgar Baths there is a great number in the Vpper Germany as also in other places In Scotland is the Lake and River Nessa which is not hot yet it is never congealed with Cold. The cause and generation of Baths is first the admixture of Sulphureous particles whilst the water is carried through Subterraneous passages or rather whilst that it glideth through the Sulphureous Mines to a collection about the Springs 2. The vapours of Smoak and exhalations within the Earth where Sulphur is pure or impure as Peat Coal Amber and the like for these materials continually send forth a calid or warm fume which heat the waters carried thither or gliding through those places Yet particles of Alom are admixed to many nay the most Baths as also of Iron and Niter whence they have somewhat a sharp and astringent tast or sapor Almost all the Baths which we know flow without ceasing except the Pepper-Baths of Germany which are famous in Rhetia not far from Curia And besides Sulphur they contain something of Gold and not a little Niter The water of these Baths breaketh out every year about the third of May and it ceaseth to flow about the fourteenth of September The famous Baths in Germany are the Plumbariae in Lorrain Emsebadae above Constantina in Alsatia near Gebersweil in the Marquisate of Bada Wildbad in the Dukedom of Wertebergh The Blasianae near Tubin There are many also in Japan and the Indian Isles There are such hot ones in the Islands of the Azores that an Egg may be boyled in them Proposition IX To explain the generation of oyly and fat liquors flowing from the earth and to enumerate the places of the earth in which they are found Of oyly liquors Some Fountains send forth a bituminous liquor some a fat water or
or force in and therefore a general Wind is considered especially in the midst of the Sea most remote from the Land 2. Yet another wind may also blow in the midst of the Sea viz. if that in another a Cloud or other cause generating of a wind be very great From these two Causes it happeneth that a general wind is less or more constant or continual in divers placer Now the general winds are only found in the Sea of the torrid Zone or that which lieth between the Tropicks about the whole Earth yet in some places it extendeth it self without the Tropicks the space of 7 degrees and they are called Eastern that is the East-wind or collateral to the East as the South-East North-East viz. which blow from the East towards the West for the whole year But they do not consist with the like constancy in all the parts of that Sea but in some they are more hindred and in some less They are more constant in the Pacifick Ocean viz. in that part of it which lieth between the Tropicks so that Ships that loose from the Port of Aquapulco in New Spain in America towards the Philippin Isles that is such as steer their course from the East to the West oftentimes for 60 degrees Sail continually without any alteration or furling of the Sail with a constant East or North-East wind neither unto this day hath any Ship in that most long Voyage of 1650 miles been cast away Whence the Mariners say that they may sleep securely in this Voyage neither is there any need of guiding the Ship seeing that the general Wind bringeth the Ship to the wished Port for here other winds do impede the general Wind. The same constancy of this same Easterly wind is found in the Sea from the Cape or Promontory of Good-hope in the bounds of Africa or rather from that procurrent part of Africa which lieth in the Torrid Zone even to Brazil in the midst of which Voyage lieth the Isle of St. Helena unto which Mariners returning from India unto Europe are wont to direct their Course The Isle of St. Helena is distant from the Promontory of Good-hope 350 Miles and is oftentimes accomplished in sixteen days or also in twelve as the general wind is either vehement or slack for in this there is not a perpetual likeness the Sea-men using the same security when that they have first sailed to the Parallel of that Island for the Promontory of Good-hope lieth without the Tropicks which we have said that they use who Sail in the Pacifick Ocean from Aquapulco to the Philippins yea when that they have passed the Promontory of Good-hope they judge themselves to have escaped all danger and variation of the winds and sleep securely the wind constantly filling their Sails towards that Island and Brazil But yet this only is their great care that they may not Sail beyond the Island seeing that it is a very small one for if that they have passed it the eighth part of a mile they cannot regain it viz. an Easterly wind forcing them towards the West therefore then they are forced with great loss of their Voyage to make to the Coasts of Brazil or the other Isle called Ascension to water at If then you demand by what course they Sail when that the Ships make a contrary Voyage in this Sea viz. whilst that they steer from the Philippin Isles unto New Spain or from Brazil and the Isle of St. Helena unto the Promontory of Good-hope whilst that they Sail from India in these Voyages the Reader must know that Mariners use a threefold mode for either they navigate the Sea scituated without the Tropicks therefore they do not touch at the Isle of St. Helena whilst that they Sail from Europe into India or where necessarily they must pass by this they do not directly steer their course from the West to the East but obliquely from the North the Collateral quarter of it to the South or the Collateral quarter of it or lastly they choose such a time of Navigation in which they know that that general wind is impeded often by others But this latter because that it happeneth rarely therefore they rather make choice of the two former Modes of which we sâ—ll speak more in the Chapter of Navigation Therefore there are two Seas of the Torrid Zone in which that general Oriental wind with its Collaterals reigneth throughout the whole year viz. that which lieth between the procurrent of Africa and Brazil the other is that which is extended between New Spain or rather between America and the Oriental Islands of which the Philippins are a part The third part of this Sea under the Torrid Zone viz. between the Procurrent of Africa and the Philippins or Oriental Islands is not indeed destitute of this general wind but oftentimes it is hindred in this Sea by reason of the frequency of Islands which hindrance yet in some places is more frequent than in other some Between Mozambique and India the general wind is of most force in January February March April in other Months other winds do blow of which we shall speak in the following Proposition This general wind is more hindred in the Sea of the Indian Isles At the Isle of Banda in the Month of May the Oriental winds begin to be prevalent being very violent and accompanied with rain at Malacca in September and in other places otherwise as we shall shew in the following Proposition See Proposition 3. Yet this you must know that this general wind doth not equally extend it self in these Seas towards the Tropicks in all parts but that there is a great difference in this For the Tropicks are distant from the Aequator on both sides 23 ½ deg but the general wind may be discovered in one Meridian unto the Latitude of 20 degrees in another Meridian unto 15 in another unto 12. So in the Indian Ocean when in the Months of February and January the East wind or South or South-East bloweth it is not discovered until you come to the 15 degree of Latitude So unto those that Sail from Goa unto the Promontory of Good-hope here a general wind meeteth them at the 12 deg of South Latitude and at the 28 degree of the same Latitude accompanieth them So also Mariners have observed that no general wind bloweth between the 4. degree of Northern Latitude even unto the 10 or 11 deg between Africa and America for when they have Sailed by that wind from St. Helena towards the Aequator even unto the 4 deg of Northern Latitude then are they destitute of that wind even until they come unto the 10 degree of Latitude And from that degree even unto the 30 the North-East is again manifestly found continually to blow although that the 30 degrees be 7 degree from the Torrid Zone Yet notwithstanding in the 6 7 and 8. degree of Parallel Latitude it also bloweth in some places but in
on the first day of June and continue only fourteen daies and then the Ships depart thence But these are rather to be referred amongst the motions because that as far as I can conjecture from the words of the Nautick Description these Terrestrial winds on those daies are there continual neither do the Marine winds succeed them 3. On the Coasts of America and new Spain unto the Pacifick Ocean Terrestial winds blow in the middle of the night and Marine winds in the day 4. In Congo and the Provinces at Lopo Gonsalvo Terrestrial winds blow from the evening all night and Sea winds begin in the morning and so lessen the heat of the day 5. The Subsolan winds also which are found to blow before the Sun and with the Sun rising every day in all places especially in Brazile where it hapneth every day in the morning It is no difficulty to explain the cause of it for either we say that it is a particle of the General wind or that the Sun discusseth and rarifieth the more gross particles condensed by the night 6. The Etesian and Chelidonian winds of the Grecians appertain to the Diary or day winds 7. On the Coasts of Camboja from Varrella to Pulo-Catte from the 28 of July to the fourth of August Terrestrial and Sea winds successively blow often every day because that the motions then cease there and cause a calm The West and North-West are the Terrestrial winds But the Collateral are the East to pass through the North and presently are reflected at the South then a calm succeedeth until the Terrestrial winds begin to blow again which yet are discovered on the Sea not above two miles from the Shoar 8. Those Terrestrial and Sea winds are found to blow in the night in America at Havanna Proposition VIII By how much you draw near the Aequator from the Artick Pole by so much the Northern-winds are found to be less vigorous and having passed the Aequator in part of the South Continent Southern-winds are vigorous which in these places are cold and dry especially in Chilis and Peru. The cause of both are the same by reason that they both proceed from the Polary places yet South-winds are found in the North Continent and Northern in the South Proposition IX From what hath been said it is manifest that there are four differences of Winds Four differences of Winds 1. Those that are common which blow at all times and in every place except that they be hindred by other winds such is only one viz the General wind 2. Proper winds which blow at all times but yet only in a certain place or tract of the Earth not in all the Earth 3. Those that blow in many places but not continually or at all times as are Motions Anniversary winds and some Diary winds 4. Those that blow not at all times nor in many places Proposition X. Some Winds are sudden impetuous and violent not continuing long Of sudden and violent Winds and not of long continuance Such are the Winds termed Prester Typhon Turbo Exhydrias Ecnephias These Winds are Anniversary in some places and some are more frequent in some places in the Sea The Wind called Prester is a violent wind breaking forth with Lightning such are seldom observed and it is seldom solitary without a wind termed Ecnephias But Seneca saith that a Prester is a Typhon or Whirlwind with an inflamed Air. An Ecnephias is a sudden Wind and violent breaking through some Cloud or Vapour such Ecnephiae are often in the Aethiopian Sea between Brazil and the Procurrent of Africa especially at the Promontory of Good-hope and from the other side of Africa to Terra de Natal also at Guinee under the Aequator Mariners call them Travados by a Portugal word also in some Months of the year it is more frequent in some Seas That Cloud and sometimes many thick and dusky Clouds are manifestly beheld by the Mariners to collect and augment by degrees and that in a most serene Sky before that the Wind breaketh forth and therefore when that they see it they ought to furl their Sails and defend themselves against a future Storm But before that Sea-men had learned the nature of these Clouds and their Prognosticks many Ships having entred into this Sea were cast away which the Portugals first experimented for that Nation first of all the Europeans sailed the Aethiopian Ocean For India being discovered by Gamma the King of Portugal sent thirteen Ships a new Navy of great burthen thither under Admiral Caprali in Anno 1500. This Navy first of all the Europeans arrived at Brazil to the great joy of the Portugals Here when that they had stayed sometime viz. the Month of April they set Sail thence on the Month of May towards the Promontory of Good-hope but they had a most cruel Storm from an Ecnephias the approach of which they saw yet were not acquainted therewith Which Maffaeus thus describeth From Brazil to the Promontory of Good-hope they reckon almost two thousand Leagues that is about a thousand German miles those are the Kingdoms especially of the raging Ocean and violent Winds The Portugals having entred into that space more adventurously than fortunately on the Month of May a flaming Comet appeared incontinently even to the tenth day And now the Sky often changing as also the Sea black and sordid Clouds were conglobated to the North and collected all the Wind into it self as it were by reciprocation the Sea was languid and the Calm treacherous the Sea-men unskilful both in the Places and Tempests spread their Sails to receive all the gale of Wind when from those Clouds as I have said the North-wind pouring it self suddenly with an universal violence it Shipwracked four of their Ships that were not so well disposed to hand their Sails in a moment the rest looking on so that of so great a Company of men none escaped See Maffeus The sudden striking of the Yards or Sails rent by the wind preserved the rest by accident Then the North-wind blowing furiously the Sea swelled the Flouds sometimes advanced to the Skies and sometimes sunk to the depths of Hell the water in the day time appeared as black as Pitch and in the night time of a fiery colour This dismal Tempest continued the space of 20 days The Promontory of Good-hope is especially infamous for such Ecnephiae or Travados There is not far from the Shoar a very high Mountain not ending in an Apex but having a plain on the top like to a Table From that top an Ecnephias breaketh forth with a great violence and wonderful Prognostick For the Sky being very clear and the Sea calm a Cloud is beheld to stand on the Table of the Mountain which is so small at first that it seemeth not to exceed the bulk of a grain of Barly and at length it increaseth to the bigness of a Walnut The Dutch call it the Oxes-eye because that this Cloud
great concernment yet it is better to begin from the Aequator that all the places may lie in some Climate Proposition XV. To shew the use of the Table of the Climates 1. The Latitude of some place or Elevation of the Pole being given to know the quantity of the Longest day in that place and the Climate in which it lieth Let the given Elevation of the Pole be sought in the Table and on the opposite Region we shall find both the quantity of the Longest day as also the Climate and the Parallel If that the given Elevation cannot be found in the Table then take that Elevation which is less near or the like which is found in the Table From the Longitude of the Longest day of any place to know the Latude of the place and the Parallel and Climate 2. The Longitude of the Longest day of any place being given which any person hath observed or received by relation to know from thence the Latitude of that place the Parallel and the Climate in which that place lieth Enter the Table with the Latitude given and you shall see on the opposite Region both the Latitude and the Place demanded as also the Climate and Parallel 3. A Climate being given to determine the Longitude of the Longest day and the Elevation of the Pole This is facil from the very sight of the Table CHAP. XXVI Of the Light Heat Cold Rains in the diverse parts of the Earth or Zones and other properties of the Zones Proposition I. These Causes are efficacious to generate and procure Light Heat Cold and Rain with other Meteors in the places of the Earth and the vicine Air. Of the causes of Heat 1. THe more or less or no obliquity of the Rays of the Sun coming to or emitted on any place For the Rays falling perpendicular on any place cause great heat and the other Rays sliding obliquely have for that very reason a less power of heating by how much the obliquity of them is the greater that is by how much the more they decline from the perpendicular Ray. 2. The diurnal stay of the Sun above the Horizon of the place For the same heat maketh more hot and changeth the Air in a longer time than in a shorter 3. The depression of the Sun beneath the Horizon being more or less in the Night season For this difference of depression causeth that either more or less Light is perceived in the Air also more or less Heat Rain thick Clouds Hitherto belongeth the Twilight 4. The more or less Elevation of the Moon above the Horizon the more or less depression of the same beneath the Horizon the more or less Diurnal stay of the same above the Horizon The Causes are the same with those alledged in the three foregoing Paragraphs The Planets and fixed Stars raise Vapours c. in the Air. 5. The same may be said of fixed Stars especially of those more noted ones and of the five other Planets Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Mercury For they generate some light and heat in the Air although it be but little and change the Air divers ways and raise Vapours if that we may credit Astronomers 6. The propriety or species of the Earth of every place For where the Earth is more stony and rocky there for the most part it is more Cold than where it is sulphureous and fat and here again it is more fertilâ— Where there is much Sand and no Rivers there is greater Heat Fumes and Mists proceed from Lakes 7. Lakes or the Sea adjacent From thence also Fumes and Mists are raised more moist and frequent in the Air and the Rays are less powerfully reflected from the Sea than from the Earth 8. The scituation of Places For the Sun acteth otherwise on Mountains and Mountainous places than on Valleys and Plains Moreover Mountains hinder the free access of the Rays of the Sun to the subject places for to them the Vapours of the Air are in some sort attracted See Chap. 20. whence the Mountains change the seasons of the adjacent places as Heat Rain and the like For these would be otherwise in the Subject places if that the Mountains were absent The Winds cause difference in the weather 9. The Winds especially the general So the Etesian winds temperate and allay the Canicular heat A general Wind in the Torrid Zone especially the Subsolan winds in Brasilia render the Heat temperate when in Africa which is Occidental the Heat is vehement because these places feel not so general a Wind. The Northern winds are cold and dry the Southern warm and moist in our places 10. Clouds Rain and Fogs take away and diminish light and heat I suppose that there are not many causes of this variety in light and heat c. which is observed in divers places of the Earth or also in the same places but yet in a different time or season Proposition II. How are the Seasons of the year Spring Summer Autumn and Winter to be defined The four Seasons of the Year Although in Sciences we ought not to contend and dispute concerning Definitions yet because certain Homonymes or Likenesses do here occur without the Explication of which there will arise much confusion in the following Doctrine therefore I will so propose this Question that you may the more cautiously avoid this Homonyme that they may not be deceived and intangled by the same The Question comprehendeth two difficulties first Whether these Seasons ought to be defined from the entrance of the Sun and his stay in certain sings of the Ecliptick and Zodiack According to Astronomers and Astrologers For so Astronomers and Astrologers commonly do saying that that is the Spring whilst the Sun moveth from the first degree of Aries to the first of Cancer that is Summer whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Cancer to the first of Libra that is Autumn whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Libra to the first of Capricorn and that is Winter whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Capricorn to the first degree of Aries Now it is manifest that these Definitions are not general and agreeable to all places because they are only of force in the Northern places scituated from the Aequator towards the Pole Artick and not in the Southern so that for these Definitions the same persons bring Definitions contrary to the former saying that in these places the Spring beginneth from the first degree of Libra proceeding unto the first of Capricorn the Summer from the first of Capricorn to the first of Aries the Autumn from the first of Aries to the first of Cancer and the Winter from the first of Cancer to the first of Libra But from thence it would follow that those Seasons cannot possibly be defined which is false and Generals ought to be defined by Generals Secondly Definitions so made cannot have place in the places of the Torrid Zone
again opposite four days of the year in two of which the Sun shall obtain a middle distance from the place given if therefore the place given be North take two of those four days whereof one happeneth between the 21 of December and the 21 of March this shall be the entrance of the Spring the other between the 21 of September and the 21 of December this shall be the entrance of Autumn But if the place given be South from those four days you must take the day between the 21 of June and the 21 of September for the entrance of the Spring and for the beginning of Autumn that which happeneth between the 21 of March and the 21 of June The beginning of Winter shall be the 21 of June if the place be South but if North the 21 of December 3. If the place given be between the Aequator and the eighth degree of Latitude it shall have two Summers and two Spring seasons besides Autumn and Winter except peradventure we will cast away that second Spring which is intermedial between the two Summers as we said in the end of the preceeding Proposition and attribute a continual Summer to that time which if you do we must act no otherwise with the given place than in the former Mode If we will attribute two Summers and two Springs to it as the definitions of Summer and Spring accurately observed do require we shall first act by the first Mode as in the former Theorems viz. we shall find the entrance of Summer and Winter and except the four days of moderate distance found in the Table of those four those two which we advised to take in the former Mode for the entrance of the Spring and Autumn here again we shall take on the same conditions but of the other two days that only which is proximate to the day of the Summer shall be taken For this will shew the end of the Summer and the beginning of the second Spring but for the day of the second Summer another day of the three remaining shall be taken in that Area from which the beginning of the first Summer was taken viz. that which is distant by an equal number of days from the 21 of June and the 21 of Capricorn if the place be South the first day of the Summer So the days shall be found in which the Summer the Spring Autumn and the Winter do begin and end in the places of the Torrid Stone Proposition V. In the places in the temperate and frigid Zones the four seasons of the year are almost equal or consist of an equal number of days But in the places of the Torrid Zone they are unequal Neither are only the times of the divers seasons unequal but also the time of the season in the divers places of the Zones is unequal The seasons of the year in the places in the Temperate and Frigid Zone are equal 1. For the places of the temperate and frigid Zones what I have said is easily demonstrated For seeing that the Sun in every time of those four quarters of the Year runs through three Signs therefore the times of the Spring Summer Autumn and the Winter shall be equal or of equal days except some days viz. five in which the Summer and four in which the Spring of the Northern places exceed the Autumn and the Winter but in the Southern places it is otherwise for Autumn and Winter exceed the Spring and Summer which as we have shewed before proceedeth from the excentricity of the Sun 2. In places lying under the Aequator there are two Summers as also other Seasons but hoth short as also both the Springs viz. each Summer and each Spring hath only 32 days which is 64 days but the Autumns and Winters are longer viz. 55 days which is 110 days 3. In the places of the Torrid Zone by how much the less they are remote from the Aequator by so much the more they have the longer Summer the less Winter and more or less moderate Autumn and Spring for in places not remote above 10 degrees from the Aequator the Summer continueth six Months Now the greatness of the Summer Autumn Winter and Spring is known by the preceeding Proposition What hath hitherto been said is only to be understood concerning the Celestial Seasons that is those which depend on a Celestial Cause or from the access or recess of the Sun for from this alone cometh not light heat and cold as we have said in some places before therefore we shall consider the other causes in the following Propositions Proposition VI. In places of the Tornid Zone as the Sun by day is very near the Vertex so on the contrary by night he is beneath the Horizon Of the Motion of the Sun in places of the Torrid Frigid and Temperate Zones and very much removed from the Vertex of those places so that those places by night lye almost in the middle shadow of the Earth neither can the Air possibly any wayes be warmed by the Suns rayes by frequent reflection In places of the Frigid Zone as the Sun by day is not very nigh the Vertex so by night he doth not profoundly remain beneath the Horizon but for the greatest part of the night doth so turn round beneath the Horizon that many rayes from him by reflection do penetrate into the Air. In places of the Temperate Zone as the Sun by day cometh to the Vertex of those places by a moderate Vicinity so by night by an easie distance he is depressed beneath the Horizon so that some rayes at least are in the Air. To shew this by the Globe first let the Pole be elevated for some place scituated in the Torrid Zone or rather let the Pole be placed in the Horizon it self that the places of the Aequator may be in the Vertex of the Horizon or that the wooden Horizon may become the Horizon of the places of the Aequator then consider the depression of the Parallels which the Sun describeth by his circumrotation beneath the Horizon and the truth of the member of this Proposition will appear Then let the Pole be elevated for the places of the Frigid Zone or let the Poles be placed in the Vertex of the Horizon and the Parallels of the Sun beneath the Horizon from the first degree of Libra to the first of Aries being considered it will again be manifest that they are very little depressed below the Horizon And so we have shewed the second member or part of this Proposition Lastly let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of any place scituated in the Temperate Zone and the depression of the Parallels beneath the Horizon again being considered the third part of this Proposition will be proved Proposition VII A place being given in the Globe and the day of the year to find the Longitude of the Crepusculum or Twilight in the place given at the day given That time is
termed the Longitude of the Twilight in which either before the rising of the Sun or after his setting some light is discovered in the Air. For the finding the Longitude of the Twilight by the Globe of any place and day of the year For the finding out of the quantity of this time we must suppose that which is observed by Astronomers as we have said in the nineteenth Chapter that the morning twilight beginneth for the most part if the Air be serene the Sun drawing nigh to the eighteenth degree of depression beneath the Horizon and the evening endeth when the Sun hath come to that degree of depression Let therefore the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place given and let the place of the Sun in the Ecliptick being found from the day of the year be sought in the Ecliptick of the Globe and let his opposite point be noted then let the Quadrant be applied to the Vertex and the point noted be found to the Horizon the Index to the twelfth hour of the Cycle then let the Globe be turned round until the noted point be elevated 18 degrees above the Horizon which is known by the help of the Quadrant for so shall the place of the Sun be depressed so many degrees beneath the Horizon and the Index in the Cycle shall shew how many hours or parts of an hour the serenity of the Air being laid down the twilight continueth that day in the place given It is convenient by three examples to learn the use of this Problem choosing a place for one of the Torrid Zone another of the Temperate and a third of the Frigid Zone Proposition VIII In places of the Torrid Zone the twilights are small very long in those of the Frigid and moderate in those of the Temperate Zone Of the difference of the Twilights in the several Zones For in places of the Aequator and those near the Crepusculum according to the Hypothesis laid down in the former Proposition is of about one hour which yet experience testifieth is only half an hour or little more because the more thick and gross Air is not so high there as is required to make the twilight to the 18 degree of depression both also because the Hypothesis of the 18 degree is to be taken concerning very small light with which the twilight beginneth such as yet is not accounted by the Vulgar for a twilight In the Frigid Zone the twilights continue for many days when the Sun remaineth beneath their Horizon In the Temperate Zone it continueth 3 4 5 and 6 hours and in some places all night and in the days of the Summer according as the places are more or less nigh the Frigid Zone All these are proved by the Mode proposed in the precedent Proposition Proposition IX A place being given in the Temperate or Frigid Zone and another in the Torrid Zone and moreover the day of the year being given to find out the hour of the place of the Torrid Zone in which hour the Sun may have the Altitude above the Horizon of that place and so strike that place with his rayes equally elevated as great as it hath in the place of the Temperate Zone in the Meridies it self Let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place of the Temperate or Frigid Zone and let the place of the Sun found from the day given be brought to the Meridian and the Altitude of it reckoned for this is the Altitude of the rayes heating that place and illustrating it in the Meridies Then let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place given in the Torrid Zone let the Quadrant be applied to the Vertex and let the degree of Altitude before found out be noted in it let the place of the Sun be brought to the Meridian the Index to the twelfth hour of the Cycle then let both the Globe and the Quadrant be moved till the place of the Sun agree with the noted degree of the Quadrant for so the Sun shall have the same Altitude above the Horizon of this place as it is in the Meridies of the former The Index will shew the hour demanded in the Cycle therefore this hour and the rayes of the Sun illustrating and beating of the place and Air of the Torrid Zone are as equally elevated over the Horizon of it as the rayes in the Meridies of the former place it thence followeth that the same heat will be in the Torrid Zone at the hour found out as in the place of the Temperate Zone in the Meridies except other causes intercede Some hinderances viz. first that the Sun in the foregoing days hath introduced some one or other calid Constitution to the place and the Air of the Torrid Zone and not such and so great in the places of the Temperate or Frigid Zone Then secondly that the Sun straitly ascending towards the Meridian above the Horizon of the places of the Torrid Zone sendeth forth all his rayes to the place as in one plain and to one plaga and therefore causeth greater heat than in the Temperate or Frigid Zone where the Sun moveth obliquely from the Horizon to the Meridian and sends forth his rayes from one and another plaga therefore the rayes are not contracted into a place so narrow nor do they continually heat For example let us seek in what hour of the day in places being under the very Aequator on the day of the Aequinoctials the Sun will have that Altitude as he hath at Amstelodame on the Meridies of the same day Proposition X. How the causes of light heat and of the seasons which we have reckoned up in the first Proposition of this Chapter have themselves in the Torrid Zone and how to shew them Of the seasont light and heat in the Torrid Zone and how they are shewed First every day of the year ascendeth directly above the Horizon of those places especially of the Aequator towards the Meridian and the Vertex of them and therefore about the ninth hour of Forenoon he heginneth to ejaculate to those places rayes about 40 degrees declining from the perpendicular rayes which rectitude of the rayes or perpendicular of the rayes augmenteth towards the Meridies and again decreasing continueth to the fourth hour after the Meridies or Noonstead where the Sun departing towards the Occidental Horizon beginneth to send forth his rayes more obliquely to those places therefore the greatest heat in those places ought to be from about the ninth hour before Noon even to the third or fourth after Noon if that this cause be only regarded but yet because the Sun now departs from the Vertex of those places and sometimes approacheth nearer therefore the Winter of every one of those places shall be when the Sun goeth from the points of the Ecliptick much remote from those places that is from the first degree of Cancer or Capricorn towards the points having a middle
above almost maketh up and moderateth them To wit in the Regions of the Northern Temperate Zone it is Spring and Summer the Sun going from Aries by Cancer to Libra because then he is more near them Then the Sun going from Libra through Capricorn to Aries it is Autumn and Winter But in the Southern Temperate Zone the matter is contrary neither can those other causes altogether disable the force of this first and induce a new course of the seasons and be able to alter the times as in the Torrid Zone 2. Yet those Seasons of divers places vary so that in one place there may be more Heat or Cold or Rain than in another although the places lie in the same Climate but yet they cause not the Winter to be changed into Summer or Summer into Winter A Rocky Marshish and Maritim Land findeth somewhat another degree of heat or cold than Vallies or a Chalk and Maritim Land 3. The places in the Tropicks for the most part in the Summer have an excessive heat others a Pluvial Season so that they almost approach to the nature of the places of the Torrid Zone So in the part of the Kingdom of Guzarat lying without the Tropick at the same time the wet and dry months are observed which in the part lying beyond the Aequator the Summer is changed into a Pluvial Season yet then there is greater heat than the dry part of the year where they have a moderate cold and in truth in the places of the Temperate Zones we judg the Summer and Winter not from the drought and rains but from the heat and cold Now in the Coasts of Persia and Ormus there is so great heat without Rains in the Summer by reason of the vicinity of the Sun rhat both the Men and their Wives ly in Cisterns full of Water The like heat is in Arabia The Regions of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea are called the coast of Barbary Throughout all Barbary the middle of October being past Showers and Cold begin to increase and in December and January the cold is perceived more intense and that only in the morning and withal so remiss that the Fire is not desired February taketh away the greatest part of the cold from the Winter but yet it is so inconstant that sometimes 5 or 6 times in one day the Air changeth In the month of March the North and West Winds blow violently and cause whole trees to be vested with blossoms April giveth form almost to all Fruits so that the entrance of May and the end of April is wont naturally to produce Cherries In the middle of May they gather Figs and in the middle of June in some places are ripe Grapes Of the seasons of the year of Barbary the Figs or Autumn are gathered in August and there is no greater plenty of Figs and Pears than in September There is not so great intemperies of the year in those places but that the three months of the Spring are always temperate The entrance of the Spring that is the Terrestrial not the Celestial is as they reckon on the 15th of February and the end the 18th of May in all which time the Air is most grateful to them If from the 25th of April to the 5 of May they have no Rain they esteem the same as ominous They count their Summer even to the 16th of August at which time they have a very hot and serene Air. Their Autumn from the 17 of August to the 16 of November and they have that for two months to wit August and September yet not great That which is included between the 15 of August and the 15 of September was wont to be termed by the Antients the Furnace of the whole year and that because it produced Figs Pears and that kind of Fruit to maturity From the 15 of November they reckoned their Winter which they extend to the 14 of February At the entrance of this they begin to till their Land which is the plain but the mountainous in the month of October The Africans have a certain perswasion that the year hath 40 very hot days and on the other side so many cold The Opinion of the Arabians days which they say begin from the 12 of December They begin the Aequinoxes on the 16 of March and on the 16 of September Their Solstices on the 16 of June and the 16 of December The end of their Autumn all their Winter and a good part of their Spring is full of violent Winds accompanied with Hail Lightnings and dreadful Thunders neither is there wanting in many places of Barbary an abundance of Snow In Mount Atlas 7 degrees distant from the Tropick of Cancer they divide the year only into two parts for from October even to April they have a continual Winter and from April again to October they have Summer In this there is no day in which the Mountains tops glitter with Snow The seasons of Numidia In Numidia the parts of the year swiftly pass away for in May they reap their Corn in October they gather their Dates but from the middle of September to January a violent Frost continueth October abstaining from Rains all hopes of Sowing is taken from the Husbandman the same hapneth if that April produceth not Pluvial Water Leo Astricanus remembreth many Mountains of Snow in Africa not far from the Tropick of Cancer Of China The North part of China although no more remote from the Aequator than Italy yet it hath a cold more sharp for great Rivers and Lakes are congealed up with Frost the cause of which is not yet sufficiently known except we should refer it to the Snowy Mountains of Tartaria not far remote to the avoyding of which cold they abound with the Skins of Foxes and Scythilian Rats New England New England although it lie in 42 degrees of North Latitude and therefore no more removed from the Aequator than Italy yet in the month of June when Sir Francis Drake was there the Air was so vehement cold that he was compelled to sayl back to the South for the Mountains were then covered with Snow The cause is the Frigid temperature of the Earth being Stony The seasons of Aegypt In Aegypt which is bounded with the Tropick of Cancer the Spring and Temperate Season of the year is observed about January and February The Summer beginneth with March and April and continueth June July and August The Autumn possesseth September and October The Winter hath November and December About the beginning of April they Reap their Corn and presently thresh it After the 20 of May not an Ear of Corn is to be seen in the Fields no Fruits on the trees On the Ides of June the inundation of the Nilus beginneth The seasons in the streights of Magellan In the Streights of Magellan and the adjacent Regions although they be no more distant from the Aequator than our parts
the Air than it would do without this refraction We shall anon alledge an example of the appearancy of the Sun proceeding from refraction 4. The Full Moon and near the Full remaineth above the Horizon for many days when the Sun is depressed beneath it viz. for so many more days by how much that place is more near the Pole Yet it is not so highly elevated above the Horizon as to cause any warmness But the Full Moon in those months in which the Sun remaineth above the Horizon in an whole revolution the Full Moon is never above the Horizon The Planets not always the same above Horizon 5. The Fixed Stars are almost the same always above the Horizon but not the Planets For Saturn remaineth 15 years above the Horizon of the place near the Pole and 15 beneath the same Jupiter 6 years beneath and 6 above the same Horizon Mars 1 year Venus and Mercury about half a year From this cause it is likely that there is great diversity of the motions of the Air and seasons in divers years 6. The Land in most places of the Frigid Zone is Stony Rocky and as hard as Flint in few places Chalky Sulphureous and Fat In these places there is a moderate fertility in the other a sterility 7. Those Regions are incompassed with the Sea but for the Mediterranian we as yet have no certain account 8. Some of the Regions of the Frigid Zone have Mountains of a moderate hight but most want them running on a plain for a long space 9. The cold Winds there frequently blow from the Polary Plaga seldom the East Wind and least of all the West In the cold Artick Plaga the North Winds rage in the Antartick the South 10. Clouds and Rains frequently perplex these Regions From these causes it is not difficult to collect what the condition of the seasons in these Regions are for in the Winter time when the Sun riseth not for whole daies it cannot otherwise be but that for the most part thick Clouds Frost and Cold must render the Land uninhabitable They are not altogether deprived of light for that time for the Moon being above the Horizon for a long time giveth light and the twilight is daily afforded from the Sun to the Vicine Horizon But the Snow the stick close about the Earth which cannot be discussed by the heat of the Sun and therefore hinder the aspect of remote things There is no fertility but all barren and uncultivated for that which some suppose by how much any Region is nearer to the Pole by so much less it feeleth the intenseness of the cold and the Fields are found more fertil seemeth not probable to me when neither in Nova Zembla which is distant 16 degrees from the Pole nor in Spitzbirga which is only 8 degrees distant such a constitution of the Earth is found but a roughness and hardness and almost in the middle of Summer Snows or at least Showers and very cold Winds Neither is their opinion helped by one example observed by Mariners in a certain Region 9 degrees distant from the Pole which most men suppose to be Groenland For in this green Grass is found and an Air more warm than in Nova Zembla as is most certain The only Animals peculiar to these Northern Regions Rhinoceros a kind of Venison is the Rhinoceros and this in the space of a month becometh exceeding fat by feeding on this grass Nevertheless seeing that as yet not many Regions are hitherto found of this temperature in the Frigid Zone it is not expedient for us from this single example to make a general conjecture especially seeing that the cause of this peculiar constitution is manifest for that Land is full of Marshes and Sedgey and the grass by which the Rhinoceros or Dear are tendred so fat is not a kind of Terrestrial Grass but Sedge and Osiers but other Herbs are not there found or any Trees From whence we may gather that that Land containeth some fat and Sulphureous Substance which being mixed which the water produceth such an Oyle and fattening Sedge but that the like Earth is to be found in other parts of the Frigid Zone hath not as yet been observed but rather the contrary Therefore in the Winter in these places is little light but an incredible and great violence of Cold Snow Showers and Polary Winds And this Winter beginneth in the Northern Frigid Zone when the Sun first entreth Capricorn although also the Autumn the Sun going from the 1 degree of Libra to the 1 of Capricorn be little different from this violent Winter The Spring indeed is less infested with this violence of the Air yet it is without Snows Showers and cold Polary Winds Yet the increase of heat in the day or rather the decrease of cold is discovered at that time viz. the Sun going from the 1 degree of Aries to the 1 of Cancer And in this Vernal season or in the latter days of it the Sun continueth above the Horizon in intire revolutions and therefore then there is discovered a moderate heat which yet is not of that force as to melt and dissolve the Snow of all those places into Water much less is it able to melt the Ice whence Marriners report that here is to be found Snow and Ice of a perpetual duration Then the Summer shall be from the going of the Sun from the 1 degree of Cancer to the 1 of Libra in the first part of which the Sun yet remaineth for whole daies above the Horizon and augmenteth the heat by some accession so that June July and August are months of a tolerable Air. In some places among the Mountains the heat of the Sun is intense but the Showers and Clouds do much hinder this benignity of the Sun and especially the most sharp Northern Winds unto which sometimes Snow is adjoyned so that no fruits or Corn can here arrive to any maturity except in some places near the Artick Circle CHAP. XXVII Of the Shadows which the bodies erected in the Earth and illuminated by the Sun do cast and of the division of the Earth arising from thence SEeing that the Shadows in divers places of the Earth which the illuminated bodies of the Sun do cast are carryed into divers places and falling on the Sense have much variety hence it came to pass that men who were ignorant of this cause were struck with an admiration and in respect of the Shadows of the Earth divided the Inhabitants of the Earth as it were into three sorts which division must be applyed to the places of the Earth or to its Superficies So that they termed some Amphiscij others Heteroscij and the rest Periscij The explication of which terms seeing that they contain but small learning we shall say somewhat also concerning Shadows which although they do not pertain to Geography yet by reason of their near affinity they may be proposed in this Chapter Of
the Shore and in the Harbours as also greater Ships come to Zeland than to Holland Proposition V. If a Ship be so burdened that its weight or gravity be almost equal to the weight or gravity of the Sea water equal to the capacity of the Ship yet it sinketh not in the Sea but when it shall be brought into any Rivers it sinketh to the bottom The reason is because the Water of Rivers is lighter than the Water of the Sea Therefore if the weight of the laden Ship be almost equal to the gravity of the Marine Water therefore it shall be greater than the gravity of River Water and so the Ship shall be sunk in the River or carried to the bottom Many Ships for this reason have perished which have been over laden by unskilful Mariners or not unburdened in the Mouths of the Rivers Now how much this gravity should be is known from the proportion of the Sea Water to River Water Proposition VI. Any body swiming on the water hath that weight that the watery Moles hath equal to the demergent part of this body Corollary The part of the Ship being given which is under Water the weight of the whole burdened Ship may be found For the gravity of the Water is known or is easy to be found For Example one Cubick foot of Water is 70 li. and therefore if the part of the Ship under Water be 2000 Cubick foot therefore the gravity of the Watery Moles which is equal to the part of the Ship under Water shall be 140000 li. So much also shall be the weight of the Ship laded Proposition VII A Ship is most commonly accounted commodiously to carry that quantity of burden whose gravity is equal to the gravity of half the Moles of water which the Ship can contain For Example if the Ship can carry 500000 Tun of Water whereof every one is accounted at 2000 li. weight that is if it contain the Water of 1000000000 li. You may conveniently lade it with the burden of 250000 Tuns 1000000000. In this sense you must understand it when they say that Ships are so many Tuns or carry so many Lasts The Spanish Carracts carry 1200 Lasts the greatest Holland Indian Ship 800 Lasts Proposition VIII By how much the Weight of the Ship laded is greater by so much the less it is tossed with storms and tempests A laded Ship is not so subject to be tossed in Tempests as when not laden Ships of 2000 Tuns are not in danger of those Tempests which are vexatious to Ships of 300 or 500 Tuns Much more might be said but this may suffice for Elements CHAP. XXXVII Of the third and chief Part of the Nautick Aâ—t viz. the Art of Guiding or Navigating of a Ship and its subdivision of the Four Parts Proposition I. That is termed the Art of Guiding or Navigating of a Ship which teacheth unto what quarters a Ship is to be Guided in any scituation of it in the Sea that it may come to the purposed place without danger I Make Four Parts of it Of the Guiding or Steering of Ships 1. Special Geography that is the knowledge of a space intercepted between two places and the properties of the same 2. The knowledge of the quarters in every place 3. The cognition of the Line by which the Ship is to be brought from one place to the other for there are between every two places infinite intercepted Lines this part is termed Histriodromice 4. The knowledge of the scituation of every place unto which by Sailing we arrive or how these places are scituated unto that place unto which the Ship is to be directed This is the chief part of the Art of Sailing Proposition II. The cognition of the intermedial space comprehendeth these things Things observed from Special Geography and Nautical Maps 1. The scituations of the places the procurrences of Angles the bending of the Shores the aspect of Promontories Mountains Bays the depths of Waters the sight of Islands and Coasts of Lands All which are known from Special Geography and Nautical Maps but most easily and with greatest certainty from observation and frequent Navigation through any tract of Land which is the only Cause that some Mariners are more fit to guide a Ship to such place and others to another 2. The knowledge of the General and Special Winds and those that are peculiar unto any place which is exceeding necessary in Navigations which are undertaken in the Torrid Zone and adjacent places For here a general Wind and in many places Anniversary Winds which we have shewed to be called Moussons Motions in our XX. Chapter do rule which either promote or hinder Navigation For the Indian Sea is Sailed by these Anniversary Winds Of these and also of storms and tempests we have spoken in the XX. Chapter See Chap. 20. 3. The Condition of the Motion of the Seas in every tract also the quarter of it into which quarter the Sea and Waves are born for they carry the Ship with them The diversity of those Motions in many places we have shewed in the XVII Chap. See Chap. 17. First of all there is required a knowledge of the Ship and reflux of the Sea and the time or hour of the increase and decrease at every day the supputation of which is termed the reckoning of the Tides for except a Master know this the Ship is often much hazarded when it is near Shores or Sands whereof most in the greatest increase of the Water do not hinder the passage of the Ship but most do in the decrease So with a flux the Navigation is more facile to the Shore and to the inlets of Rivers and the contrary is discovered in the reflux Of the supputation of this time we have spoken a little in the Proposition of the XVII Chapter CHAP. XXXVIII Of the knowledge of places viz. the North South East and West and the intermedial quarters Proposition I. In every place to know the Plagas viz. the North South East and West and the intermedial quarters The quarters very neccessary in Navigation THe knowledge of this is the most necessary of all the Problems of the whole Art of Navigation seeing that a Ship must be guided unto some quarter which if unknown there can be no direction and the very defect of this knowledge alone hindred the Navigation of the Ancients and in this is the chief difference between the Ancient and Modern Navigation For the Ancients had not a Method by which at any time in the large Ocean they might know where was the North where the South and the other quarters Therefore they could not nor durst they commit themselves to the vast Ocean but only coasted the Shores so that they might know the quarters from other signs The Ancients had a double Method of finding out the quarters The Ancients had a double Method which serveth also to the Modern Navigation of finding out the quarters
mark with a Chalk Then let the shank applied to the quarter be moved until the other noted point of the shank applied to the quarter fall in on the Parallel of the observed Latitude For the point of the falling in is the place sought viz. the place of the Ship But if that there be no Parallel of Latitude observed on the Map let the degrees intercepted between this Latitude and the vicine Parallel be taken by the interval of the Compass on the lateral line And let the Rule in the line of the quarter and one Foot of the Compass be moved together in this Parallel until the other Foot of the Compass and the noted shank do meet the point of the meeting sheweth the place of the Ship Seamen use two pair of Compasses If that you will determine more accurately by the Calculation of the place demanded on the Map or Earth it self the Problem is this The Latitude and Longitude of one place being given and the quarter in which the Navigation is appointed to another place and the Latitude of this place given to find his Longitude for the Latitude and Longitude given is the place it self 3. The quantity of the Voyage performed from one known place to another unknown being observed and the Latitude of this other being observed to find this other on the Maps Let the quantity of the Voyage performed be taken by the interval of the Compass from the opposite Scale Then if a Parallel through the degree of Latitude be observed on the Map let one Foot of the Compass be placed on the noted place the other Foot on this Parallel This point shall be the place demanded But if the Parallel pass not through the degree of Latitude let one shank of the Rule be applied to the vicine Parallel on the other shank let the degree of Latitude be noted and let the Rule be moved until the other Foot of the Compass toucheth the noted point of the Rule The place of the Map subject to the point in this scituation shall be the sought for place of the Ship If that a more accurate invention is required by Calculation the Problem shall be this The Latitude and Longitude of one place being given and the distance of the other on the line of Navigation and the Latitude of this to find out the Latitude of this other For this being known when the Latitude is observed you have the scituation of the place it self on the Maps or Earth The 4th or 5th Method also of finding out of this place is also given viz. in which the Longitude of the other or sought for place is supposed to be observed but the Latitude is unknown But because that very seldom the Longitude can be observed on the Sea therefore this Method is omitted as unuseful See Snellius Stevens and Metius He that desireth more concerning this Method let him Read Snellius Stevens Metius and others that have treated at large of it Proposition III. To conjecture unto what quarter the Ship is moved and in what Rhombe although the signs be fallacious In the solution of the former Proposition for the finding out the place of a Ship those things as noted were taken and observed 1. The quarter unto which the Ship is moved and the Rhombe in which 2. The way made 3. The Latitude of the place unto which it hath arrived Now therefore we must shew how these three may be observed on the Sea that they may be used for the finding out of the place For if that these be not rightly known or observed the true place shall neither be found or discovered First therefore let us see concerning the quarter of the course of the Ship and the Rhombe The Pilots know the quarter from the Compass or Loadstone The Pilots know the quarter from the Compass or Loadstone For what quarter or Rhombe of the Compass agreeth with the Line of the conceived Longitude of the Ship the same is put into the quarter of the Ship to be moved and to describe its Rhombe For they seldom use the sign taken from the quarter of the apparent rising and setting of the Sun which they compute These signs may be corrupted by divers Causes so that they may deceive in shewing the Rhombe or quarter 1. If that the Declination of the Magnetick Needle be uncertain in that place and therefore the quarters of the Compass do not shew the true quarters 2. If that the Sea in that place hath a flux to a certain place for it will carry the Ship from the true Rhombe although the Ship be directed unto the same quarter the fluxes and refluxes are the frequent cause of this error And in many places of the Torrid Zone a general Motion is of force and in many places a stated and fixed Motion from stated winds 3. Winds especially storms remove the Ship from the Rhombe of their Voyage although they ply in the same quarter 4. The fluxes of the Sea which are carried towards other quarters and carry the Ship with it 5. The Rudder or Helme cannot be moved by him that steereth unto any quarter as it ought to be the waves of the Sea obstructing of it All these hinder the Ship to be moved in the same Rhombe whose quarters are shewed by the Compass But how much it is drawn aside must be learned by conjecture from the vehemency of the Flood and of its quarter and the like but the Method is very imperfect Proposition IV. To cast up the Voyage made upon the Rhombe to measure it at the given time from the given place The casting up the Voyage made upon the Rhombe c. Pilots conjecture the same 1. When they observe or know by experience what course a Ship is wont to make with such a Wind. 2. If that they have Sailed in the same Meridian or vicine Line with any Wind and have observed the Latitude of the place in the beginning of the Motion and the Latitude of the place in the following time For the difference of Latitude turned into miles sheweth the course made for so long a space of time and such a Wind. Whence for the time given and such a Wind continuing the course made is collected 3. With more industry they measure the course performed by a Boat and string one end of which is fastened to the Boat and the other with the Globe is in the Ship for the Ship remaining immovable Sailing is permitted to the Boat untill it be removed 10 or 12 Orgyas of the string and the time elapsed between is observed And from this for any time of the performed course of the Ship is found out The signs of the performed Sailing of the Ship are corrupted and rendred uncertain by divers ways yea are uncertain of themselves seeing they are mere conjectures 1. Oftentimes the Ship maketh lesser or greater way than the conjecture affordeth viz. because in many places of the Sea the flux is
COSMOGRAPHY AND GEOGRAPHY In Two Parts THE FIRST Containing the General and Absolute Part of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY BEING A TRANSLATION From that Eminent and much Esteemed GEOGRAPHER VARENIVS Wherein are at large handled All such Arts as are necessary to be understood for the true knowledge thereof To which is added the much wanted Schemes omitted by the Author THE SECOND PART Being a Geographical Description of all the WORLD Taken from the Notes and Works of the Famous Monsieur SANSON Late GEOGRAPHER to the French King To which are added About an Hundred Cosmographical Geographical and Hydrographical TABLES of several Kingdoms and Isles in the World with their Chief Cities Seaports Bays c. drawn from the MAPS of the said SANSON Illustrated with MAPS LONDON Printed by S. Roycroft for Richard Blome MDCLXXXII To the Right Noble CHRISTOPHER DUKE OF ALBEMARLE Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Potheridge Beauchamp and Teys Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire and Essex Captain of His MAJESTIES Life Guards and Guards of Horse One of the Gentlemen of His Bed Chamber and One of His Most Honurable Privy-Council MY LORD WHEN I consider You are the Duke of ALBEMARLE the very Title is so Great that it puts a damp on my Quill and disables me from making any sufficient Apology for this presumptuous Dedication But on the other hand when I consider that You are Heir to Your now Glorious Fathers Vertues as well as to his Titles and Dignities and that his Goodness and Humility are entailed on You his only Son I cannot want a Motive to this Ambition My Lord This Volume is a Cosmographical and Geographical Description of the WORLD in which Your Name is great and precious and although in it self is excellent yet being Countenanced by Your Protection will admit of no Equals This being granted by Your Grace's Favour I have no more to beg but that Your Fathers Magnanimity Valour Grandure and Heroick Actions may be so deeply imprinted on You that these Kingdoms may not only love and admire You but that Your Name and Memory may be precious to future Ages which is the Prayer of MY LORD Your Graces most Obedient Servant RICHARD BLOME THE Preface to the Reader AMongst all those Arts or Sciences which Man ought to have a Knowledge of the Description of the Earth and Heavens which is termed COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY for the Vtility and Dignity thence arising ought not to have the least estimate the Soul being naturally inclined to the exploration of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY as a necessary inherent in it which seems evident in that Men of undoubted Judgments out of a singular desire to propagate this Study and sparing no Cost or Labour have travelled over the greatest part of the Universe Vnto this we add That seeing the Earth was created by God to be the habitation of Man if by brevity of Life and Humane imbecility we cannot so well Travel with the Body yet at least-wise we would visit behold and contemplate it in our Minds for its beauty admirable elegancy and the Honour of the Creator There are many other Forceable Arguments by which it appears all Men are generally inclined to the knowledge thereof As the Commodities of every Nation are peculiar to it self so that according to Divine Providence one Nation cannot well subsist without the help of another to which end they are transported by way of Exchange and Traffick unto other Countries But to shew the use of it in all Arts and Sciences there being none but receive some light and assistance from COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY To this the immortal Stagyrite and Divine Plato flieth as a refuge when a numberless multitude and variety of Natures secrets in Lands disjoyned and the profound Ocean sometimes nonpluseth or staggers their Capacities The Moral PHILOSOPHER is a Non-essence being unskilled herein for how can he search into or inform himself of the Genius Natures Inclinations or Studies of Men and what is most proper for every distinct Nation or People being his adequate subject without this Chart to stear by The PHYSITIAN is necessitated to have a great insight in this Noble Study both for observing the Drugs and Medicaments transported from Foreign Parts c. judging their Natures and Effects from the several Climates c. but especially for the variety of Bodies or Constitutions which are habituated according to the Climate and Soil of the Country Take this away from the MARTIALIST his Stratagems fail and his whole Knowledge is in a feeble condition The MERCHANT and NAVIGATOR are compelled unto an insight herein for the knowing the Scituation and Climate of Countries their Circumferences the Latitude and Longitude of Places the Currents of Rivers what Commodities each Region aboundeth in and what they are deficient of and the Manners Customs and Dispositions of the Inhabitants Without COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY all History is a thing of little use the affinity of them both being such that they seem to center both in one And to come more home to the matter the History of the Scythians Indians Aethiopians and Americans are only expressed unto us by Geographers Farther Historiographers make use of Geographical Descriptions for the better and more full illustration of their History And lastly in reference unto POLICY or Management of State no Wars Societies or Leagues can be well made with a Foreign State or Kingdom except there be first a perfect knowledge of the Nature Disposition Manners Customs Strength c. of the Nation or Pâ—â—ple with which such a Combination or League c. is to be made and established Henry King of Castile though much weakned by Sickness yet neglected not to send frequent Embassadors into Asia that he might have a continual information of the Manners and Strength of those Provinces And the same was done by Moses before his setting foot into Palestine Now Nature which exhibiteth and discovereth her elegancy and force in the production of variety of things hath not only diversly distinguished the Faces and Physiognomy but also the Souls and Minds of Men The Modes Genius's Customs and Natures of Nations being vastly different unto this very end she hath variously disposed the causes themselves GEOGRAPHERS have divided the World into Climates and every Climate is distinctly subject to the Dominion of some Planet as the chief cause of this Diversity where observe that the first Climate which extendeth through the Meroë an Isle made so by the River Nilus is subject to Saturn Those under the second Climate is attributed to Jupiter and passeth through Siene a City in Aegypt Those inhabiting under the third is subject to Mars and extendeth through Alexandria Those under the fourth is appropriated to the Sun and stretcheth through Rhodes and the middle of Greece Those under the fifth which passeth through Rome and divideth Italy from Savoy is attributed to Venus Those under the sixth where Mercury is predominate passeth through France And
greater than that which entereth in for if it be lesser or no greater I think we ought not to question whether that which goeth forth be the same with that which cometh in Other Notes or Signs are in some as the Rhodanus entereth the Lake Lemanus and again goeth forth and yet causeth not that Lake which is discovered besides other tokens from the colour which this River beareth contrary to the Lake neither doth the Rhine cause any Lake but is produced and conserved from waters bubling under the earth yet I do not propose these as undoubted Proposition XVII Most Rivers are by so much the broader by how much they are near to their mouth or removed from their Spring and great is their Latitude in their Mouths or Outlets The Mouths of Rivers broader than at their Springs The cause is 1. Because other Rivers enter into that which exonerateth it self into the Sea and so the quantity of water is augmented 2. Because the Channel is less depressed in the parts nearer the mouth 3. Because that the water is forced back by the wind blowing from the Sea from the mouth to the Fountain which violence is only discovered in the parts near to the mouth not in those remote and near the Fountain 4. The Sea it self when such a wind bloweth entereth the mouth and rendereth it more large and broad by vehement agitation And by so much the outlets are larger and broader in great Rivers by how much they are the fewer Great are the mouths or outlets of the River Maragnon in Brazilia of St. Laurence in Canada of the Zaire in Africa of Rio de la Plate in Brazilia for this River is carried into the Sea by an out-let of 40 miles as some have observed or as others of 20 miles only And I suppose those that write of 40 miles comprehend the other mouths of the River together Those who have been in Congo relate that the mouth of the Zaire is 28 miles and these Rivers sending forth such a large quantity of water overcome and obscure both the salt taste of the water and the motion of the Sea towards the shoar and that unto 10 or 12 miles in the Sea Proposition XVIII The water of Rivers carrieth with it many particles of various Metals Minerals Sands of oyly or fat Bodies Rivers in their course carry various things with them Some Rivers carry gold that is sands mixed with some grains of gold and such are 1. some in Japan 2. In the Islands of Lequeo not far from Japan 3. A Riveret called Arroe in Africa which springeth in Monomotapa from the foot of the Mountains of the Moon in which Mountains there are golden Mines and it floweth into Magnice a River in Soffalae 4. In Guiney where the Negroes separate these grains from the sand and sell it or exchange it with the Europeans for Toyes or slight Commodities 5. In the Riverets about Mexico grains of gold are also gathered up especially after showers of Rain Which must be understood of all these Riverets For except in the times of showers scarcely any or very little is found 6. In Peru. 7. In Sumatra 8. In Cuba 9. In Hispaniola and other adjacent Isles 10. In Guiana a Province in America 11. In the Rivers of Caribana great grains are found after showers 12. Many Riverets and Springs are found in the Regions about the Alpes in Germany especially in the Province of Tirol from the water of which gold and silver is extracted although nothing of grains be conspicuous in them because they carry very small Particles or Atomes The Rhine also carrieth golden clay in many places as also the Abbis In times past the River Tagus was famous for rowling down Sand-gold but at this day no such are found in it neither do I remember that any River in Europe is celebrated for such riches Also in Hassia at this time a small River is reported to be found in the sands of which were grains of gold but I have read no Author worthy of credit concerning it No Silver Rivers or Riverets are taken notice of by Writers yet I doubt not but that there as many or more Riverets which carry grains of gold but because they are not so easily discovered from the sand and no great gain can be obtained therefore it hath not yet been observed by any The same is also the cause why we meet with no mention of those Riverets that carry grains of Iron Copper Tin except of very few of which questionless there are a great number the admirable effects of which being discovered men admire and are amazed and vulgar Philosophers fly to an occult quality Let us only cast an eye on that River in upper Germany A strange River in Germany which changeth Iron into Copper as the Vulgar think so that if you hang an Iron shoe in it you will draw it out Copper But the Iron is not changed into Copper as is vulgarly supposed but the grains and particles of Copper and Vitriol that are in this River corrode the Iron by the assistance of the motion of the water and the particles of the Iron being removed those of the Copper succeed in their places This the Modern Physicians that are skilful in Chymistry have learned by another experiment Much less are the Riverets that are impregnated with many particles of kinds of earth and salts observed But we shall explain in the following Chapter the Mineral and Metallick Springs From this admixture of various particles proceedeth the great diversity of waters in Rivers and Wells The water of some if that you use it to boyl Meat maketh it black which is a sign that it is impregnated with Iron neither are Pease so easily softned as when they are boyled in other water which is somewhat more fat Of divers waters the same or like Beer cannot be made Now the Albis is of the number of these fat ones as I may so say The cause of this variety is to be sought from the variety of the Lands through which the River runeth which are either stony gravelly or metallick And experience testifieth that Rivers whose water is fat do run through clayie Lands so all the places that adjoyn to the Albis are fruitful Proposition XIX The waters of most Rivers differ in colour gravity and other qualities The waters of most Rivers are of different qualities For some waters are black some inclining to black some inclining to red some to white And this diversity of them is chiefly noted when that two Rivers do meet for we may discover for many miles those waters where now they exist in the same part of the Channel From whence also 't is manifest that they differ in gravity when that one rather sinketh to the bottom of the Channel than the other although this is made more manifest by the examination by weight The water of the Ganges is accounted the most wholsome and the most light and
proceed from dry bodies So Sal Armoniac vanisheth into smoak fire being placed under it This also is the cause that in divers Regions a different Air is discovered Also that it raineth in one place and not in another Proposition V. The least particles of the Air and those all insensible repell or reflect the rayes as a Looking-glass but some of the particles of the Air being sensible and compounded do transmit many rayes but reflect fewer others on the contrary transmit fewer rayes and reflect more Therefore the parts of the Atmosphere are divided into those that are opac and pellucid The parts of the Atmosphere these are those that transmit many rayes the former are those that transmit fewer Therefore because that the least particles both water and earth being Atoms are solid little bodies without any pores so that they transmit no rayes but repell them because that it is very probable that a perspicuity or a transmission of rayes doth require pores orderly placed in a body and empty little spaces But the parts of the Air or Atmosphere composed of little particles if that they shall have ordinate and many pores they will be perspicuous and transmit many rayes but if that those particles shall be composed or aggregated very confusedly they will transmit rayes without any pores thence it cometh to pass that the Sun discussing a thick cloudy opac Air doth make it perspicuous to wit more porous Now that the least particles reflect rayes is manifest from hence that the rayes of the Sun in a most serene Air be admitted into an obscure Chamber through a narrow hole you will see manifestly from the particles flying in a great number in the Air that the rayes are reflected to the eye as from a glass Now seeing that those particles are yet sensible the same must be concluded concerning the least particles and those that fly the sense Now those who will have humid attenuated vapours to be perspicuous but not dry ones and smoaks they are refuted by experience and reason By reason because that fumes and dry exhalations may be made equally subtile and porous as those that are watery but they suppose that perspicuity doth not consist in the mode or reason of the pores but in a peculiar quality But it is manifest by experience because that the Air is serene it hath more dry than moist particles for in that new kind of Wind-gun which is not discharged by powder or fire but by the help of wind and air the Air is so condensated that it scarcely comprehendeth the sixtieth part of the former space yet neither do they create any kind of humidity in the Gun which must altogether happen if that the particles of the serene Air were watery Proposition VI. Exhalations do not ascend of themselves and of their own nature upwards but they are forced by a violent motion or the Air is not light but heavy in a proper mode of expression Of exhalations All that is to be termed grave or heavy is moved to the Center of the Earth except that it be hindred but the Air doth that for the Earth being digged up the Air descendeth into the space made That therefore it is carried upwards is thus performed 1. That heat rarifieth it to seek a greater space 2. Because that it is forced by another vapour So in cold places as in Nova Zembla and with us in the night season no Mist ascendeth but the heat of the Sun approaching rarifieth it and causeth one part to force out and thrust forwards the other For if that those small particles of Air were free neither mutually implicated one within another then at length it would be light Proposition VII The upper parts of the Atmosphere are more subtile than the lower yet it may so come to pass that the middle parts may be more gross and condensed than the lower parts about the Earth Therefore the more light parts fly to the upper place they are more subtile and light hence the truth of the member of the former Proposition is manifest Now the cause of the latter member is that the parts in the middle Air easily counite again and so become thicker for the hot or calid Particles being carried up with them have forsaken them and the Rays refracted from the Earth in that middle Region by reason of their distance have no force Thence it cometh to pass that after Rain the middle Air is more serene because the more thick parts are separated Proposition VIII The Atmosphere or Air being heated possesseth more space than before now by how much it is more destitute of heat by so much the more it contracteth it self and occupieth the lesser space The Air being heated possesseth more space than before This is excellently shewed by that Instrument which we call a Thermometer or Weather-glass because that we measure the temperature of the Air and heat by in in hot and cold in which we discover the Air to become more condensed and to occupy lesser space in the Glass by how much the Air acquireth less heat as we shall shew in the following Proposition Now the cause of the Proportion is a priore because the calid Particles either of the Rayes of the Sun or of another fire are most subtile of all the Particles of the whole world and in continual motion Therefore those Atmospheres whilst that they are admixed separate and divide these Particles with a great force and so cause more pores and these little fires departing the Particles of the Air left to themselves unite again or are mutually complicated within themselves Corollary Therefore the Altitude of the Air or Atmosphere is not constant but decreaseth and increaseth viz. at Noon-day it ought to be greater at Midnight least about the time of the rising and setting of the Sun moderate as in Proposition XIV Proposition IX To make a Thermometer Thermoscope or Weather-glass by which we may discover the mutations of the Air in heat and cold Take a Glass of an oblong and cylindrical neck with the spherical small head L H How to make a Thermomemeter or Weather-glass let this be fixed to the Table or Board M N P Q the head being erected Let a Vessel with water be placed under the Orifice which is best to be coloured so filled that part of the pipe or neck L F may be hidden in it Now let the time of the moderate constitution of the Air or at that time at whose temperature you will compare the temperature of the Air of the other days and at that time let the water be poured into the Vessel so it will happen that the Air becoming more frigid Sec Scheme the water will ascend upwards beyond F because that the Air being condensated with cold which before filled up the space F A now possesseth less space On the contrary the Air being rendred more hot the water will descend from F towards L because that the
from the middle and sendeth forth rays it signifieth a moist and windy season 3. If that the Sun be pale in his setting but if it be red the Air will be quiet and serene the next day 4. If the Sun being pale setteth in black Clouds it signifieth a North-wind 5. If that the Moon be red like unto gold it is deemed a certain sign of a Wind according to the Verse Pallida Luna pluit rubicunda fiat alba serenat 6. A circle about the Moon 7. If that the Northern-horn or corner of the Moon appear more extended a North-wind is approaching 8. If that the Southern a South-wind is at hand 9. The rising of the Moon and the more noted Stars as of the Bear Orion and especially the Goats with the Sun 10. If the small Stars in Cancer termed Asellos be covered with a Cloud if the Northern of them be covered the Wind will be South if the Southern be covered it will be North. 11. For the most part Winds begin to blow when that the Wind ceaseth 12. When a certain noise and murmur like to an Ebullition is heard in the Sea 13. The Ancients also prognosticated from the Raven the Dolphin and other Animals 14. From fiery Meteors as from Lightning and Falling-Stars but not from the Ignes fatui Proposition XVIII Why in the Spring and Autumn the Winds are more frequent and blow with greater force than in the hot Summer or cold Winter Greater and more frequent Winds in Spring and Autumn than in Summer and cold VVinter In the Spring it is supposed to be partly by reason of the dissolving of Snow especially in Mountainous places partly because that the Pores of the Earth are then opened and send forth many exhalations partly because that the Air and Vapours are then more thin when that they were condensed in the Winter Add that for the most part in the Month before the beginning of the Spring and in the very Spring many Rays do fall by reason that humid Constellations then have possessed those houses of the Zodiack into which on the entrance of the Sun we account the beginning of the Spring and also in Autumn the frequent Rays and Exhalations are to be accounted the cause of the Winds as well as in the Spring by reason that a moderate heat proceeding from the Sun advanceth the Vapours and Exhalations yet such as are more thick and less attenuated But in the heat of Summer there are no Winds for the most part for the same reason by reason of which Rays are very seldom seen at that Season viz. because that the Sun overmuch attenuateth the Exhalations and doth not permit them so to conjoyn or meet in such a quantity as is required to the generation of the Winds Which cause is not general or always true and neither is it generally true that in the heat of Summer there are no Winds for here we are only to understand it concerning that which oftentimes happeneth But in the sharp Winter the winds are more rare and that by reason that both fewer Vapours are raised from the Earth and those also that are elevated are either condensed into Clouds or are so dissipated by Frost that they cause no wind Proposition XIX In what Altitude of the Air or in what Region of the Air the Winds begin to blow In what Region the Winds begin to blow There are some that suppose the winds not to exceed the lower Region of the Air because that they discover that the tops of the high Mountains as Olympus feel no Blasts But I question the Observation seeing that the Smoak cast forth from the top of Mount Aetna is discerned to be moved to and fro by the wind therefore I suppose that such a windy commotion may be caused also in the upper Region of the Air. Proposition XX. Vnto what space one and the same Wind may extend it self How far one and the same Wind may extend it self There is great diversity in this matter for the winds blowing from the East to the West under the torrid Zone seem to encompass the whole Earth and those also that blow either from the North or South for many days and long spaces are wont to accompany and follow Mariners The same seemeth true concerning collateral Lines but this diversity is because that the same wind is different in divers places as we have shewed in the Tenth Proposition in the end of the explication of the first cause CHAP. XXI Of the Winds in particular and Tempests IN the foregoing Chapter we have alledged the distribution and differences or rather the denominations of the Winds which they receive from the quarter from whence they blow or seem to blow which division also is accidental by reason that they are taken in respect of a certain place of the Earth unto which those Quarters are related Now in this Chapter we shall alledge the divisions and Phaenomena which are in a certain time of the year or else are proper to certain tracts of the Earth although that we desire to have more and those likewise more accurate Observations concerning these things But we will produce what we have collected with much labour from the Diaries of the Seamen Proposition I. One Wind is constant and another inconstant Of Winds constant and inconstant That is a constant wind which at the least for one or two hours bloweth from the same quarter That is an inconstant wind which sometimes bloweth and other some is changed into other winds blowing from other quarters The causes of the more or less duration of the same wind also of the swift immutation seemeth to be 1. if that it be from a general cause or from a cause less constant So Winds proceeding from the motion of the Air with the motion of the Sun in the torrid Zone are constant so those also that blow from the dissolving of the Snow especially in the Mountains 2. If that by chance there be no such vapours in other quarters which are apt to generate Winds 3. If that the circumambient Air about the Cloud of which the Winds are generated be more thick and granteth no passage to the Exhalations but if that the Air be not so thick or more relaxed and that few Vapours be here and there in divers places and quarters and lastly if that the general causes do cease then indeed the Winds are found variable which are for the most part gentle Proposition II. One Wind is general and another particular Of general and particular Winds The general Wind is termed by Mâ—riners a Passant wind which at many places at once in a long tract of Earth bloweth on the Sea almost for a whole year That is termed a particular on the contrary which bloweth not at once in many places for a whole year Now a general Wind is hindred 1. In the parts of the Sea near the Earth for here Vapours from other quarters do interpose
Sea and the like is in Guzurat but for very many Months when it beginneth to blow in Congo and Guzurat in September it continueth even to March The Anniversary wind of the Grecians which they call Ornithia or the Bridges wind this they say bloweth after the Vernal Aequinox the Sun ascending to the Vertex of the Europeans Proposition V. Why the Etesian winds blow not in Italy France Germany Persia and other Regions especially seeing that they are more near the Northern Mountains from whence we assert the Etesian winds of the Grecians Congo and Guzurat do arise and blow The Etesian winds blow not in all Regions though near the Northren Mountains The Question is of no small moment and I wish that we had more accurate Observations concerning this matter viz. the notations of the winds which at that time are observed in each Region whether in every Year the same never return Yet if that any thing must be said to the Question these seem convenient 1. We cannot deny but that the North wind often bloweth in our Canicular or Dog daies 2. That it is discovered less continual and in each year peradventure the Cause is the often blowing of other winds which hinder the discovery of the same 3. We may say that the Mountain from which this first resolution of the Snow begineth is scituated directly from Greece and therefore the first Canicular wind is carried hither but the Vapours are carried hither from the Snow of the other Mountains because that here they find a free passage made but I shall reject these my extemporay thoughts when that I shall see a better reason and more accurate Observations Proposition VI. Some winds are proper and almost perpetual to some place or tract of Land others are ceasing Places which have a certain wind at a fixed time Those places of the Earth are very few which have a certain wind at a fixed time viz. these 1. The places of the Torrid Zone especially of parts of the Pacifick and Aethiopick Sea scituate in the Zone enjoy a perpetual wind viz. an Oriental wind or its Collateral which they call a General wind as we have shewed in the second Proposition where we have treated largely of it Yea this wind is not so much to be reckoned amongst the proper winds but rather to be determined to be common to all places for although by accident it happeneth that it be not discerned in all places viz. because other winds blow more strong yet it is proper to some the Cause is alledged in the place cited 2. On the Coasts of Peru and part of Chili and to the adjacent Sea the South wind is almost perpetual and his Collateral wind at the West It beginneth at the 46 deg of Latitude and bloweth to Panama the American Isthmus and causeth that in few daies Ships arrive from Lima at Panama laden with Gold Silver c. But it requireth many daies sail from Panama to Lima. But this wind bloweth not in the Sea remote from the Coasts of Peru It is difficult to render the cause of this wind by reason that the South Land from whence it seemeth to blow is not yet known unto us Yet I think it probable that because that Mountains are found in it covered with perpetual Snow therefore the winds are generated from a continual resolution of them But I will not infect the mind of the Reader with these my suspicions or conjectures For peradventure the Snows which are found all the year long in the high Mountains at the Streights of Magellan are the cause of these winds but yet it may be Objected that those Mountains lie from the South towards the West declining from the South wherefore we shall leave this to a more diligent inquisition or a more full knowledge of the South Continent 3. At the Coasts of the Land of Magellan or Del Fugo about the Streight Le Mair continual or at least very frequent Westernly winds do blow and that with that force that they make the Trees to bend towards the East from their perpendicular rectitude neither is there any part of the Earth in which those Occidental winds so often blow but on the other part of the Streights Le Mair at the Coast of the South Land the South wind bloweth I can render no other cause of those Occidental winds but that I suppose them to be raised from Snow and Clouds in the South Continent which extendeth it self from the side of that Occidental Streight from the South towards the North. But these are doubtful and more diligently to be inquired after 4. On the Malabarian Coasts of India for almost the whole year the North and North-East winds blow the cause proceedeth from the resolution of the Snows of the Mountains of the Asiatick Sarmatia viz. Imaus or Caucasus from the Clouds on the other Mountains of Asia which are collected and press the subject Air. 5. In the Sea near to Guinea the North West wind is frequent and in the remote Sea the North East 6. In the middle passage between Japan and Liampo a Maritimate City of China even unto these are found Occidental winds which blow in Japan in November and December 7. At the Isle Guotou not far from the Isle Dos Cavallos in the Sea of China is a frequent South wind when that yet in the neighbouring Ocean a North wind is predominate Proposition VII Vnto these Periodical or state Winds appertain those also that are tearmed day Winds which in some Regions and at a certain time of the year blow for some hours every day Of Day Winds so called Now they are found to be twofold and that only in some Maritimate places for some blow from Mediterranean places to the Shore towards the Sea and others on the contrary from the Sea to the Shoars 1. On the Malabarian Coasts in the Summer season viz. from September to April the Terrestial winds or Terrinhos do blow from the twelfth hour of the night to the twelfth hour of the day now these winds are Eastern winds But from the twelfth hour of the day to the twelfth hour of the night the Sea wind or Viraconus to wit the West wind bloweth but this is very weak so that by its assistance the Ships can hardly arrive at the Shoar I suppose the cause of those Oriental winds from twelve at night to twelve in the day partly to be a general wind and partly Clouds on the Mountain Gatis But the cause of the Occidental Winds that blow from twelve in the day to twelve at night is the resolution of thick Clouds caused by the setting of the Sun which Clouds before by the Oriental wind were forced towards the West Out of those named Months the North wind predominateth also the East and North-East neither by reason of the often Tempests are these Terrestrial and Marine winds discerned 2. In Musulipatan a City on the Coasts of Charomandel these Terrinhos begin to blow
Indians Orancan It is often in the Oriental Sea especially in the Sea of Sian China and Japan between Malacca and Japan This violently breaking almost from the Western quarter and being whirled about the Horizon with a rapid course perfects its circumference by continual increase in the space of twenty hours raising those vast Seas with an horrid violence and swellings the Billows beating one another take away all hope of safety from the Mariners and so both by reason of these Typhons and also other Storms sailing from India to Japan is very dangerous so that it is accounted an happy Voyage if that one Ship of three keepeth its course At the Autumnal Season a most furious Typhon doth especially predominate and that often with so great violence that those that have not seen it can hardly believe it so that it is no wonder that some mighty Ships have been weakned by those great Waves you would think in this Storm that Heaven and Earth would meet Neither doth it only rage on the Sea but also on the Shoars and overwhelmeth many Houses and throweth up huge Trees by the roots and forceth great Ships from the Sea on the Land for about a quarter of a mile The Mariners term it a Wind that runneth round the Compass In the Indian Ocean it seldom continueth above six hours and maketh the Sea so level at the first as if that it were plained but on a sudden horrible Waves do follow So about the City Ardibil in Persia in June and July every day when that the Sun is at his Meridian height a Whirlwind ariseth for an hour by which a great dust is raised Questionless the cause of a Typhon is that a wind breaking forth with violence from some one quarter towards another findeth an obstruction in this and therefore is wreathed and turned into it self as we see that if water be suddenly moved if that an obstacle be put in its way it moveth in a round suddenly and with a force It may be that a Typhon may arise from opposite winds blowing together violently which render the superficies of the Sea so plain and comprehend the Ships in the middle If that it rush from above it is called Caetegis and then it maketh the Sea so plain as if that it had been plained but presently mighty Floods or Waves arise Proposition XIII Whether that some Winds break forth from the Earth or Water Of VVinds breaking forth from the Earth or VVater We easily apprehend that this may easily be seeing that Cavities are here and also Winds Sulphureous substances and Moisture Now nothing hinders but that a gust sufficiently vehement may be there generated viz. if that it be any thing hindred as it is procreated to go forth or if that it be presently generated in a great quantity as much as the winds require If that the Outlet be hindred an Earthquake is generated or a wind with a violent force maketh wey for it self and thrusts forwards the Earth So oftentimes a Smoak breaketh forth from the Earth in the Isles of Maarice so also from some Caves In Japan is a Fountain breaking forth at certain hours of the day with great noise Yet I do not remember that I have read of any Wind breaking forth out of the Sea Proposition XIV Whether that a certain Wind may arise from the flowing of the Sea and of the Rivers Of a VVind that floweth from the Sea and Rivers Experienced testifieth that in those places where the flux and reflux of the Sea is discovered if at any time the Air be free from other winds from the most part with the water flowing from the Sea a wind also bloweth from the Sea Therefore it seemeth probable that the Air by reason of the contiguity is carried with the water to the same quarter But this should be more diligently observed Whether when that the Air is still the same wind is discovered with the afflux of the Sea I think yet that another cause of this Wind may be given viz. that the Air is forced from the place by the flowing water Now the Air is much moved at a very little impression so they will have the Air moved with the Rivers that run swiftly Proposition XV. Why Ignes fatui Castor and Pollux and Helena are amongst Tempests The Portugals call them Corpo Santo the Spaniards St. Elmo Now not only one but many are oftentimes beheld in Ships at the Masts wandring with an uncertain motion as other Ignes fatui although that sometimes they may seem to fix on the Sails and Masts But sometimes leaping up and down they appear like a flame or a Candle burning obscurely If that four such vicine Lights be seen the Portugals term them Cora de Nostra Seneora the Crown of our Blessed Lady or Virgin Mary And these they account of as a most certain sign of the Tempests to cease The cause of those Fires is a Sulphureous part full of Bitumen forced downwards through that great motion of the Air and forced or fired into one by agitation or congregation So we see by agitation that the Butter of Milk is separated from this Phaenomenon is also collected that for the most part those violent Tempests proceed from a Sulphureous spirit rarefying and moving the Clouds Proposition XVI Why there is so frequent a Calm in the Sea near Guinee and under the Aequator in the Atlantick Ocean between America and Africa Frequent ' Calms in the Atlantick Ocean This is one of the Phaenomenons about Winds of no small difficulty That at Guinee which is two degrees from the Aequator and under the Aequator is almost a perpetual Calm especially in April May and June where no motions are found there when that no such thing is observed in other parts of the Ocean scituate under the Aequator Indeed an Ecnephias is sometimes sufficiently frequent there but this also is desired oftentimes by the Sea-men because that by the force of frequent Ecnephiae they endeavour to sail beyond the Aequator For it happeneth very often that Ships sailing from Europe to India are detained a whole Month at the Aequator before that they can pass it Now especially they avoid the Coasts of Guinee and the Calm there and therefore with some hindrance to their Voyage they sail towards Brazil yea some Ships are detained here for three Months before that they can depart from the Coasts into the Mid-Sea I have not yet found out the cause of the Phaenomenon unless perchance this be it that Snows are found intercepted in no Mountains of Africa between Guinee and Barbary which may generate the Winds Proposition XVII In some Regions the Tempests are Anniversary Of Tempests Anniversary in some Regions We have given some Examples of these in our former Propositions viz. 1. Concerning the mutation of Motions 2. Concerning our Ecnephias 3. Concerning a Typhon 4. At the Promontory of Good-hope in June and July 5. In the Isle
the Seasons in many places of the Torrid Zone are contrary to the motion of the Sun viz. that it is Summer there when the Sun is most distant and Winter when he is nearest yea vertical to the Vertex Therefore we have distinguished the Seasons into Celestial and Terrestrial We have shewed heretofore and that in the third and fourth Proposition how any place being given in that Torrid Zone the Months of the year are to be found in which the place ought to have Summer Spring Autumn and Winter if we have regard to the access and recess of the Sun that is we have taught to design the times of the Celestial Seasons But seeing that in many places of this Zone the forementioned Seasons do not happen in those Months but in others and that in divers places in a different time therefore the times of the Terrestrial seasons must be taken not from the Heaven or a certain method but from the experience made in those places and as much as possible the cause of every one of them why they repugn the Celestial cause must be explicated viz. from those 10 causes which we have laid down in the first Proposition 〈◊〉 this therefore ought first to be known that the Winter in the Torrid Zone doth rage with cold and frost but rather with raines and is to be defined by a lesser heat then that in the time of the Summer Farther in many places of the Torrid Zone they reckon not four but two seasons of the year viz. Summer and Winter and these are not distinguished by heat and cold but chiefly by siccity and humidiy for in the Winter they have often greater heat than in their Summer with a shortness of respiration because the rain and the Clouds press the Calid Air downwards But the Spring and Autumn are not to be found by so manifest signs or differences We shall begin our Narration from that part of Africa which lyeth under the Torrid Zone and proceeding towards the East with Brazilia we shall finish the whole Torrid Zone seated in the West measured by us The Regions of the Occidental shore of Africa from the Tropick of Cancer to Cape verd that is distant 14 degrees from the Aequator towards the North are all abounding both with Corn and variety of Fruit there are also heards of Cattell and flocks of Sheep in great abundance The Inhabitants are of a great strength the heat of the Air a little exceedeth Mediocrity so that the Inhabitants go naked except the Noble and those that are rich whose clothing is a Linnen Cloth The cause of this fertility and temperate Air contrary to the custom of the Torrid Zone is First many Rivers of which the chief are Senega and Gambea before they discharge themselves into the neighbouring Sea they water those Regions and render the Air more humid and frigid Secondly the vicinity of the Sea which affordeth humid vapours and somewhat cold Winds How the Seasons of the year have themselves in this place and what months of the year Summer and Winter happen and are vigorous I have not found noted by Writers which is to be imputed to their negligence and sloth Yet in one Itinerary I have read that in one of the Islands which lye not far from the Promontary of Cape verd by name Salinae or the Hesperides in one of them I say called St. Vincents the Latitude is 16 degrees the watery months that is Winter are August September November December January even to February This time almost agreeth with the Celestial cause for in the months of May June and July because the Sun is very near or else vertical to that place therefore it maketh the Celestial Summer and here the Terrestrial agreeth with it for then they have a greater heat and dry Air without Rain In the months of February March and April is their Spring be-because the Sun is moved from a moderate distance to a lesser therefore they are then without rains and have a moderate heat The months of August September and October are to be ascribed to Autumn by reason of the rains although it ought to begin latter because the Sun in August hath not yet returned from his least distance to his mean Lastly the months November December and January are Winter because the Sun hath then the greatest distance from their Vertex and then they find more and longer continuing rains with some cold but this is not to be observed every year though most years But how the seasons are in the Continent of Africa is not related except that concerning the shore of Sierra Leon it is contrary as we shall now speak 2. Now succed the Regions of the Coast of Africa which look towards the South and extend themselves from the Promontory of Cape Verd to the curvature or bending part of Africa that is from the West to East These Regions are termed by one name Guiny although others attribute this term only to one part Now they lie in the Torrid Northern Zone 3.4 and more degrees from the Aequator In these Regions there is a continual heat of the Air without any intervening Cold yet they attribute some months to the Summer and some to the Winter I think the same must be understood of the former Western Coast for in the Regions of the Shore called Sierra Leon which is removed above 9 degrees from the Aequator towards the North as also in many Tracts of Guiny they ascribe the months March April May June and July to Winter especially the three first by reason that on these months there fall frequent and almost continual rains hot or warm great Thunders and Lightnings and so great Storms rage without violent Winds that none can easily conceive them See Chap. 21. who hath not had experience of them How they rage I have already spoken also in these months the Fields lie Barren but when these Stormy months are expired then they dig up the dry Earth which hath sucked up the great Rains in the said wet months and mix stamped and bruised Coals instead of manuring and so for the space of 10 days suffer the Earth to putrify and then they sow their Seed There is here so great an heat of the Air joyned with humidity by reason of the propinquity of the Sea that the Fish which are taken stink if kept undressed half a day Therefore in these places the Winter shall be in April May and June when the Storms and Rains rage The Spring in July August and September the Summer in October November and December and the Autumn in January February and March where the Rains and Storms do begin Now all these times of the Seasons in those places are contrary to the Celestial cause or motion of the Sun for in the months of May June and July great heat ought to be there because then the Sun is then vertical or near the Vertex which the heat or warmness of the Rain also
to wit In the South-East and North-East or in the quarters more near to the North and South its cause seemeth to be referred either to the divers scituation of the places in which the Snow and the more thick Clouds are there collected or rather unto a general wind which is very forcible to attract those Motions unto another quarter For seeing that a general wind of its own nature tendeth directly from the East to the West and these Motions tend from one Pole unto the other thence ariseth a mutual hindrance and thence it may come to pass that the wind may gain an intermedial quarter between the East and South and East and North. The South-West and North-West Motions are unconstant rare and weak and therefore are scarce reckoned amongst Motions when that the North and South by accident seem to decline sometimes to the West but they are attracted to the East by a general wind Now to render a reason concerning the great diversity of these Motions in divers places more accurate observations are required and those not of one year but of many with the notation of the Winter Rainy Snowy Seasons and the Mountains of these places from the quarters of which these state winds do blow we should also know the Phasis and Motion of the Moon and what variation this maketh Several winds blow at certain times in set places 2. In July South winds blow at Cape Verd for then there is the Winter in the time of Rain and this seemeth to produce from no other Cause than that by which in our Zone North winds blow in the Winter 3. At the Promontory of Good-hope in September the North-East wind bloweth 4. At Patanen in India in November December and January continual Rains and a North-East wind predominateth but in other Months an East wind bloweth and it is Summer 5. About Sumatra there is a mutation of the Motions in November and December 6. In the Isle of Mayo one of the Azores in the end of August a vehement wind bloweth from the South and bringeth Rain which moistens the Earth otherwise dry and then first of all Grass springeth up which feedeth many Goats at the end of December 7. In Congo from the middle of March to September at what time it is Winter there the North and North-West wind blow or other intermedial winds which force and gather the Clouds on the tops of the Mountains and generate an obscure Air with Rain But from September to March the South and South-East and other intermedial winds blow that are contrary to the former See the following Proposition We have taken these differences of the state and Anniversary winds from the Observation of Mariners that term them Moussons or Motions if that they blow in a long tract of the Sea And now we should Treat of their Causes but that we are ignorant of the Mountains of the Regions of the times of the Snows and their meltings and many other matters Moreover those Observations of Seamen are not sufficiently accurate so that they deserve a diligent inquisition concerning their Causes The more noted Motions are these More noted Motions 1. In the Indian Ocean between Africa and India and to the very Moluccos in an Oriental Motion towards the West which begineth in January and bloweth for six Months even to the begining of June In August and September a contrary Motion begineth viz. Western winds In June July and August is a mutation of Motions and great Tempests from the North. Now when that we speak of Oriental and Occidental winds we do not only understand the East and West winds but also the Collateral winds 2. The Oriental motion varieth very much at the Shoars so that Ships can only Sail from India on this side Gatis or on the Coasts of Malabar from January to the middle of May to Persia Arabia Mecha and Africa for seeing that in the end of May and all June July and August the Tempests rage violently and often a North wind or furious North-East wind frequently intermixing it self therefore in these Months no Ships pass from India on this side Gatis but on the Coast of India beyond the Gatis or Ganges that is on the East quarter or on the Coasts of Choromandel such Tempests are not known A Voyage is undertaken from Ceilan Java and other Isles to the Moluccoes in September because that then the Oriental motion begineth which hindereth the general wind But when you depart to 15 degrees of South Latitude beyond the Aequator this Occidental motion is not discovered in the Indian Ocean but a general South East wind filleth the Sails 3. From Cochin to Malacca that is from the West to the East they begin their Voyage in March because that then there the Western motion begineth or rather the North West wind frequently bloweth 4. In the Kingdom of Guzurat half the year the North winds blow from March to September and in the other half the South winds and that without any other hindrance caused by other winds 5. The Dutch set Sail from Java for the most part in January or February when that they return for Europe then they Sail with an Easterly wind even to 18 degrees of South Latitude and here the South or South-East wind begineth to blow by which they Sail even to St. Helena 6. Although in the Indian Ocean from January even to June the motion be Oriental and then from August to January the motion be Occidental yet nevertheless in divers parts of it when we must Sail from one place to another divers seasons are discovered more or less convenient by reason that the Collateral winds do more or less blow or the motion is more or less vehement at those times or other winds more often or more seldom intermix at that time therefore those that are to Sail from Cochin to Malacca observe another motion another from Malacca to Maccou the Emporium of China another from Maccou to Japan 7. At Banda the Western winds cease with the end of March and at the end of April there are variable winds and calms with the Month of May violent Easternly winds with Rain begin 8. At Ceilan about the Promontory called Punto Gullo on the 14th of March the first Occidental wind beginneth viz. the West-South-West then the South-West constant and continnual from the end of March to the first of October then the North-East begineth which bloweth there even to March but some daies at ten or also more these State-winds or motions happen sooner or later 9. In the Voyage from Mozambique to Goa in May and June the South-East winds are predominate even to the Aequator but from the Aequator to Goa the South-West and South winds reign in July August and the following Months 10. In the 35 deg of the Elevation of the Meridian which passeth through the Isle of Tristan de Conha in May on the New Moon the West wind reigneth 11. At the 2 â…• of