An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. VI. Of the Zones and their Inhabitants, and of the Climats.

I. There are five Zones in the Earth; and what we are to understand by the word Zone. THe Ancients, to distinguish the Degrees of Heat and Cold on the Surface of the Earth, did divide it into 5 Zones, viz. into the Torrid Zone, 2 Temperate, and 2 Cold Zones. By the Name Zone they understood a space of the Earth, lying between the two Tropicks; or one of the Tropicks, and the next Polar Circle; or between either of the Polar Circles, and the Neighbouring Pole. So that the Zones are nothing else, but different Regions of the Earth differing in Tempe∣rature, according to the Suns Nearness, or Di∣stance.

II. The Torrid Zone. The Torrid Zone, is that Space which is com∣prehended between the Tropicks; the Northern part whereof reacheth 23 Degrees and an half from the Aequator; and the other part, as far towards the South: So as that the whole Space contains 47 Degrees in Latitude; and is therefore called the Torrid Zone, because it is scorched by the perpendicular Beams of the Sun.

III. The Tempe∣rate Zones. The Zones that are placed between the Tropicks and the Polar Circles, are called Temperate; the one of them being between the Tropick of Cancer and the Artick Circle, which is 43 Degrees broad. And this is called the Temperate Zone towards the North. The other is call'd, the Temperate Zone towards the South, between the Tropick of Capri∣corn and the Antartick Circle, and hath as many Degrees in Latitude as the former.

IV. The Frigid Zones. The other two which are comprehended within the Polar Circles, are called Frigid or Cold: Where∣of one is the Northern Frigid Zone, between the Artick Circle and the North Pole; from which Circle to the Pole, are accounted 23 Degrees and an half. The Southern Frigid lies between the Antartick Circle and the South Pole, and is just as many Degrees in Latitude.

V. The Torrid Zone is not inhabita∣ble▪ as was believ'd by the An∣cients. The Ancients believ'd the Torrid Zone to be Inhabitable; according to that of Ovid,

—of these, the Middle Zone, Is scorch'd with Heat, inhabited by none.

But Experience hath now better inform'd us; for the Spaniards, Portuguese, Hollandors, and also the English, who have Sailed round the World, as they call it, have found the Torrid Zone not to be scorch'd with intolerable Heat, but Tem∣perate enough, and water'd with plentiful Showers, and with frequent Rivers and Springs, abounding also with all manner of Fruit and Corn, and affording a pleasant and delightful Abode to Ani∣mals and Men, so as that People of several Nations come to inhabit there. This appears also conso∣nant to Reason; because the Length of the Nights, which are equal to the Days, in those Regions, doth greatly allay the heat of the Air. Neither are there wanting in this Space many Lakes, Pools, and other moist places, whence copious Vapours are raised, which afterwards coming down in Rain, do allay and temper the heat of the Sun. For tho' the Rains that fall there be but small, yet they are so frequent, as sometimes to continue for some Months together, greatly favouring the growth of Plants, and conducing to the refresh∣ment of Men, and other Living Creatures. Which inclines me to be of Polybius his Opinion, who asserts that part of the Earth under the Ae∣quator to be more Temperate, than that which is under the Tropicks; because when the Sun is about the Aequator, he presently runs over the Vertical Point; but when at the Tropicks, he continues Ver∣tical for several Days.

VI. The Inha∣bitants of the Torrid Zone, are in a three∣fold diffe∣rence. There is a difference amongst the Inhabitants of the Torrid Zone: For some of them live under the Aequator, others under the Tropicks, and others again between the Aequator and the Tropicks. The Sun toucheth the Zenith or Vertical Point of all these, once or twice every Year. They who live under the Aequator, in the first place, have a Right Sphere: Secondly, They alone enjoy a Perpe∣tual Aequinox: Thirdly, They alone have the view of both Poles: Fourthly, To them alone all the fix'd Stars Rise and Set: Fifthly, They have two Summers and two Winters: Sixthly, The Sun passeth their Zenith twice in a Year. Those who live under the Tropicks do first experience two Meridional Shadows, in a Years time: Secondly, They have but one Summer, and one Winter: And lastly, The Sun reacheth their Zenith once in a Year. They who live betwixt the Aequator and the Tropicks, have 3 South shadows in a Year; in the next place they have 2 Summers and 2 Winters, especially if they be more remote from the Tropicks: Thirdly, The Sun passeth their Zenith twice in a Year.

VII. The Inha∣bitants of the Tempe∣rate Z••••••••. The Inhabitants of the Temperate Zones, in the first place, have one South shadow in a whole year: Secondly, They have two Solstices: Thirdly, They have one Summer and one Winter in a year: Fourthly, The Sun never reacheth their Vertical Point: Fifthly, They have 2 Aequinoxes every year, as all those have that have an oblique Sphere, or that dwell betwixt the Aequator and the Poles.

VIII. The Inha∣bitants 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Fr••g••d Zones. The Inhabitants of the Frigid or Cold Zones, are of 3 sorts: For they either live under the Polar Circles, or under the Poles themselves; or betwixt the Circles and the Poles. They who live under the Polar Circles, do alone enjoy a Day of 24 Hours long; and all other things which happen to the Inhabitants of the Temperate Zones, happen also to them. They who live under the Poles, have a Day of 6 Months, to which succeeds a Night of the same length. They have never any Aequinox, and to them alone no fix'd Stars ever Rise or Set. But they who live betwixt the Poles and the Polar Circles, their longest Day in the Summer is above 24 Hours. They do not see the Sun, whilst he is in the Tropick of Capricorn. Other things they have common with those that live under the Polar Circles.

IX. The diffe∣rence of the Inha∣bitants 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Earth, with re∣spect to their situ∣ation. Another Distinction of the Inhabitants of the Earth is taken from the opposite situation of their Habitation; and this Difference is Threefold, being distinguish'd into Perioeci, Antoeci, and Anti∣podes.

X. Perioeci. They are call'd Perioeci, who live under the same Parallel, and the same Meridian, but yet under the opposite Points thereof. Such are those who live in the places marked 7 and 8, and 3 and 6. Now all these have the same Summer and Winter, and much the same Temperature of the Air, and the same Length and Shortness of Days * 1.1

and Nights; but have their Day and Night at a contrary time to one another: Except they be placed within the Frigid Zone, because then it may so happen, that they have the same Day and Night.

XI. Antoeci. Antoeci are those that live under Parallels, that are equally distant from the Aequator, and under the same Meridian, in the same Longitude. Such are those who dwell in the Points 3 and 7, and in 6 and 8. They have the same Noon and Mid∣night; but have their Summer and Winter at op∣posite times: So as that the longest Day of one of them, is the shortest Day of the other. The An∣toeci between the Tropicks may have the same Winter, but never Summer at the same time.

XII. Antipodes. Antipodes, or Antichthones, are those who live under Parallels or Points distant the same Latitude on either side of the Aequator; or under the Aequator it self, but yet in opposite Points of the same Meridian: Or more briefly, as Cicero has it, Antipodes are those whose steps are opposite to each other. And such are they who live in 1 and 2, 5 and 4, 6 and 7. The Antipodes without the Aequator, 5 and 4, have all things opposite. Those at 5 and 4, have Night and Day quite con∣trary: And all the rest have also their Summer and Winter at contrary times. There is no Point assignable on the Surface of the Earth, to which an Antipodal Point doth not answer; and this is nothing else, but the other Extremity of the Dia∣meter from the foresaid Point, passing through the Center of the Earth. Whence it is, that these great Varieties must needs happen.

XIII. The Opinion of the An∣cients con∣cerning the Antipodes. Those who are our Antipodes, live towards the South Pole, and are yet undiscover'd what kind of People they are; but the Antipodes of other Nations are known. For though some Great Men of Old did deny Antipodes, as supposing that if any such were, they must hang in the Air, and have their Heels higher than their Heads; yet these are worthily derided by Lactantius, Lib. 4. cap. 14. de Falsa Sapientia; forasmuch as the Inhabitants of the Earth, in what part soever they live, tread upon the Earth with their Feet, which every one may easily under∣stand that considers the Earth to be Ro und.

XIV. Way the Surface of the Earth was divi∣ded into Climats. But because the Distinction of Zones did not seem sufficient to the Ancients, to specifie all the diversity of the Situations of Regions about the Aequator, they thought convenient to add many Parallels, by which, as by so many lesser Zones they divided the Earth, and called them Climats, as being so many Inclinations or Deflexions from a Right Sphere. Yet there is this difference betwixt the Parallels and Climats; that the Parallels are only of one Quarter of an Hour, but the Climats of Half an Hour. So that in whatsoever place of the Earth the Solstitial Day is one Quarter of an Hour longer than 12 Hours, that place is under the first Parallel. But if the Excess reach to Half an hour, that place is situate under the second Parallel; or, which is the same, under the first Cli∣mat. For by Climats the Ancients understood nothing else, but large Spaces of the Earth, or Zones, between two Circles Parallel to the Aequa∣tor, equal in Latitude, and passing through every 10th Degree of the Meridian. These are 18 in all, 9 whereof are called Northern, and 9 Sou∣thern.

XV. The first Northern Clime, is that which is call'd Aethiopi∣cum. The first Climat, from the Aequator towards the North, hath its beginning where the Longest Day is of 12 Hours, and its Latitude or distance from the Aequator is 10 Degrees; towards the further part of which, the Longest Day is 12 Hours, 35 Minutes. It is commonly called Ae∣thiopicum, from the Country of Aethiopia, as passing over the City Meroe. For the Custom of the Ancients was, to put the Name of some Famous place contained in it upon the several Cli∣mats.

XVI. The second, Arabicum. The second Climat is that, where the Latitude is of 20 Degrees, and the Longest day of 13 hours and 12 minutes, and is called Arabicum, from Arabia Foelix, through which it passeth.

XVII. The third, Aegyptia∣cum. The third is that where the Latitude is of 30 Degrees, and the Longest day of 13 hours and 56 minutes: And took the Name Aegyptiacum from Alexandria, the Metropolis of Aegypt, through which it passeth.

XVIII. The fourth, Syriacum. The fourth Clime is that, where the Latitude is of 40 Degrees, and the Longest day of 14 hours and 51 minutes. It is called Syriacum, be∣cause it passeth through Rhodes in Syria.

XIX. The fifth, Italicum. The fifth is, where the Latitude is of 50 De∣grees, and the Longest day of 16 hours and 9 mi∣nutes; and it was call'd Italicum, or Gallicum; because it passeth through Rome and Paris, where the Longest day is of 16 Hours.

XX. The sixth, Britanni∣cum. The sixth is where the Latitude is of 60 De∣grees, and the Longest day of 18 hours and 30 minutes; and this is called Britannicum, or Ger∣manicum.

XXI. The seventh Suecicum. The seventh is, where the Latitude is of 70 Degrees, and the Longest day of 65 Days; and is commonly call'd Suecicum.

XXII. The eighth, Glaciale Boreum. The eighth is, where the Latitude is of 80 Degrees, and the Longest day of an 134 Days; and is called Glaciale Boreum.

XXIII. The ninth, Polare Bo∣reum. Lastly, The ninth is that Space which is ex∣tended to the Northern Pole, where the Longest day is of Half a year, or of 188 Days, and is called Polare Boreum.

XXIV. The first of the Sou∣thern Cli∣mats, is called Brasilia∣num. The first of the Southern Climats begins at the Aequator, and ends in the 10th Degree, where the Longest day is of 12 hours, 35 minutes. It takes its name of Brasilianum, from the Country of Brazile.

XXV. The second, Peruanum. The second is, where the Latitude is of 20 De∣grees, and the Longest day of 13 hours and 12 minutes: And is called Peruanum, from the Country of Peru.

XXVI. The third, Paragua∣ticum. The third is, where the Latitude is of 30 De∣grees, and the Longest day of 13 hours and 56 minutes; and is called Paraguaticum.

XXVII. The fourth, Chiliacum. The fourth is called Chiliacum, from the Coun∣try of Chili, which is extended 40 Degrees towards the South; where the Longest day is of 14 hours and 51 minutes.

XXVIII. The fifth, Sylvestre. The fifth is, where the Latitude extends to 50 Degrees, and the Longest day is of 16 hours 9 minutes. It is called Sylvestre, because it is inhabited by Savages and Wild People.

XXIX. The sixth, Magella∣nicum. The sixth is call'd Magellanicum, where the Longest day is of 18 hours and 30 minutes, and reacheth to 60 Degrees.

XXX. The seventh Incogni∣tum. The seventh is of 70 Degrees, and is call'd Incognitum, Unknown; where the Longest day is of 65 Days.

XXXI. The eighth. Glaciale Austrinum. The eighth is that, where the Latitude is of 80 Degrees and the Longest day makes 134 of our Days; and is called Austrinum Glaciale.

XXXII. The ninth, Polare Austrinum. The ninth and last is extended to 90 Degrees, where the Longest day is of 6 Months, and is called Polare Austrinum.

XXXIII. O•• Old t••ere were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seven C••••mats, whereas now there are ••••gh∣t••••n. Formerly there were only 7 Climes, because they contained all the Countries that were then known: But the Earth being more known and discover'd, is now distinguish'd into 18 Climats, which Astronomers call by another name, Eleva∣tions of the Pole; and Geographers, the Latitudes of Places, or their Distances from the Aequa∣tor.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fig. 40.