A Briefe Introduction to Geography Part 3

{ _Meridies_.

These foure are called the cheife or Cardinall quarters of the world. They with the others betweene them are easily knowne but are of more vse to Mariners then to vs. Wee may rather take notice of those other names which by Astronomers Geographers Divines and Poets are giuen vnto them. Who sometime call the East the right hand part of the world, sometime the West, sometime the North, & sometime South, the diuersity is noted in these verses, _Ad Boream terrae, Sed Coeli mensor ad Austrum,_ _Praeco Dei exortum videt, occasumque Poeta._ That is Geographers looke to the North, Astronomers to the South.

Priests turne them to the East, & Poets to the West.

This serues for vnderstanding of Authors, wherein any mention is made of the right or left part of the World, if for example he be a poet, he means the South by the right hand, the North by the left: because a poet turnes his face to the West, and so reckons the quarters of Heauen and Earth.

2 The second distinction is by the notable differences of heat and cold, that are observed on the earth, this is the division of the Earth by Zones or Girdles, which are parts of the Earth, wherin heat and cold doe remarkably increase or decrease. Those Zones are 5.

1 The hot or burning Zone (_Zona torrida_) which containes all that s.p.a.ce of earth, that lieth betwtene the two Tropicks, supposed heretofore (but falsly as after experience hath shewed) to be inhabitable by reason of heat, the Sunne continually lying ouer some part of it.

2.3 The temperate Zones wherein neither heat nor cold is extreame but moderate: these are two, one on the North side of the Aequator, betweene the Articke circle, and the Tropicke of Cancer, another on the South side betweene the Tropicke of Capricorne, and the Antarcticke circle.

4.5 The cold, or Frozen Zones, wherein cold for the most part is greater then the heat, these likewise are two, one in the North, betweene the Articke circle, and the North Pole, another on the South betweene the Antarctick circle and the South Pole. These of all parts of the earth are worst inhabited, according as extremity of cold is alwaies a greater enemy to mans body, then extremity of heat.

3 The third distinction is by the shadowes, which bodies doe cast vpon the earth, iust at nooneday; for these doe not alwaies fall one way but diuersly according to their divers scituation vpon the Earth. Now in respect of the shadowes of mens bodies, the inhabitants of the earth are divided into the

1 _Amphiscy_ ([Greek: amphischioi]) whose shadow at noone day fall both waie, so to the North when the Sunne is Southward of them, & to the South when the Sunne is Northward, and such are those people that doe dwell in the hot Zone. For the Sunne goes ouer their heads twice a yeare, once Northward, another time Southward, when the Sunne is just ouer their heads they are called _Asoy_, [Greek: aschioi], without shadow.

2 _Heteroscy_ ([Greek: heteroschioi]) whose shadowes doe alwaies fall one way, namely alwaies towards the North, as those that dwell in the Northerne temperate Zone, or alwaies to the South, as those that dwell in the Southerne temperate Zone.

3 _Periscy_ ([Greek: perischioi]) whose shadowes goe round about them, as those people who dwell in the two cold Zones, for as the Sunne never goes downe to them after he is once vp, but alwaies round about, so doe their shadowes.

4 The fourth distinction is by the scituation of the Inhabitants of the Earth, compared on with another: who are called either.

1 Perioeci ([Greek: perioichoi]) such as dwell round about the Earth in one and the same paralell, as for example vnder the Tropicke of Cancer.

2 Antoeci ([Greek: antoichoi]) such as dwell opposite to the former in another Paralell of the same distance from the aequator. As those vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne.

3 Antipodes ([Greek: antipodes]) who dwell iust vnder vs theire feete opposite to ours.

5 The fifth distinction is of the Length and Breadth of the Earth and places vpon it: these may bee considered two wayes

1 Absolutely, and so the { Longitude or Length of the Earth is its Circuit, and { Extension from East to west, { { Lat.i.tude or breadth of it, is the whole Circuit and { Compa.s.se of it from North to South.

2 Comparatiuely: comparinge one places scituation with another, and so the { Longitud of a place, is the distance of it from the { first Meridian going through the Canary Ilands, { Eastward. Whereby wee know how farre one place lies { East or West from another.

{ { Lat.i.tude of a place, is the distance of it from the { aequator towards the North or South. Whereby wee know { how farre one Place lies Northward, or Southward of { another.

The Longitude must bee reckoned by the degrees of the aequator, the Lat.i.tude by the degrees of the Meridian.

For example, in these two Haemisphaeres, the longitude of the whole earth is from (_C_) to (_A_) and (_B_) in the aequator. The lat.i.tud is from (_N_) to (_S_), and from (_Q_) to (_P_) the North and South poles, and this reckoned in any meridian. The first meridian is (_ANBS_) which goes by the Canary Ilands, the aequinoctiall is (_ABCA_). Now I haue a Citty giuen so. (_D_) I would know in what longitude and lat.i.tude it is. For the longitude I consider what meridian pa.s.seth through it, which is the meridian (_NDS_) which crosseth the aequinoctiall in (_I_) at 15 degrees, wherefore I say that (_D_) stands Eastward from the first Meridian 15 degrees. So I finde that the Citty (_E_) is 150 degrees Eastward, (_G_) 195, and (_F_) 345.

For the Lat.i.tude I consider what paralell runnes through (_DEG_) or (_F_) and I finde the 30 to pa.s.se by (_D_) 45 by (_E_) the 15 by (_F_) the 45 Southward by (_G_) and those numbers are the lat.i.tude of the place that are distant from the aequator, (_CAB_).

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Concerning the means whereby the longitude of places is found out, there is scarce any thing that hath troubled Mathematicians so much as the observation of it. For because no standing marke can be taken (the Heavens alwaies running about) it must needs bee difficult. To measure vpon the earth, going alwaies vnder the same paralell, is a way certain in regard of some few places, but so troublesome in it selfe, and vnprofitable in regard of other places that ly out of that paralell, that it may be accounted a fruitlesse labour. The voyages & accounts of Marriners at Sea, are so full of casualty & vncertainty by reason of the doubtfull variation of the compa.s.se, the vnequall violence of windes and tides, the false making of their sea cards, by which they saile, and the ignorance of the Masters for the greatest part, as there can hardly be any a.s.sured reckoning made by them. The best means of observation is by Eclipses of the Sunne & Moone, which in severall Countries are sooner or later seene, according as one place lies farther East or farther West from another. But this also falls out so seldome, and when it happens, is so seldome obserued, and when it is observed, hath so many difficulties in the precise and exact observation of it; that wee may Well account this inquiry after the longitude of places, to be one of those things whereof wee must be content to be ignorant, & rather to gesse at it in Grosse, then in vaine to striue for exactnesse, which is the cause why the tables of the longitude and lat.i.tude of Citties, though they many times agree in the lat.i.tude, doe yet for the most part very much differ in the Longitude.

6 The sixth Distinction is by the Length or shortnesse of the Day in Summer time in seuerall Quarters of the earth. And this diuision is by Climates ([Greek: chlimata]) which are seuerall s.p.a.ces of the earth contained betweene two Paralells, in the which the longest day in Summer excedes that in another Paralell by halfe an Houre. There is a greate deale of Confusion and difference betweene the late and ancient Geographers about the distinction and diuers reckonings of the Climats. It is not worth the labour to recount theire opinions and Calculations: thus much is plaine, and easie to bee knowne. There are 24.

Climats in which the Day encreaseth by halfe houres from 12.

houres to 24. There are likewise 6. Climats in which the day encreaseth by moneths, from one moneth to sixe that is halfe a yeare. Vnder the Aequator the day is alwayes twelue houres longe, but as you goe from it towards the Pole, the Day lengthens still till it comes to a day halfe a yeare long.[3] Now in what degrees of lat.i.tude euery on of these Climats beginne and end, shall appeare by this table following.

[Footnote 3: Those that dwell vnder the Pole haue not past 3, or 4 moneths profound as tenebras darke night, for when the Sun is in Libra & Pisces being then nigh, the Horizon it sends forth to them a glimmering light not vnlike to the twilight or dawning of the day in a morning a little before the Suns rising _Munster_ lib. I. cap.]

7 The seaventh and last distinction of the earth is taken from the scituation of it in respect of the Heavens, and especially the Sunnes motion. In regard whereof Some parts or inhabitants of the Earth are said to be or dwell in a Right Spheare, some in a paralell Spheare, and others in an oblique or crooked Spheare.

They dwell (in _Sphaera recta_) in a right or streight Spheare who dwell iust vnder the aequinoctiall, whose Horizon is paralell to the Meridians, but cutts the aequator at right Angles, they dwell in paralell Spheares, who dwell iust vnder either of the Poles, whose Horizon is parallell to the aequator, but cuts all the Meridians at right Angles: and the latter is sometime called a Paralell Spheare.

They dwell (in _Sphaera obliqua_) in a crooked Spheare, who inhabite any place betweene the aequinoctiall and the Pole, whose Horizon cuts the aequator, the Paralells, and the Meridians at oblique or vnequall angles.

A table of the climats.

+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ Climes Paralells The Lat.i.tude The The places by which longest & elevation breadth the climates pa.s.se. summer of Pole. of the day. Scr. Degr. Climats. Hou. Scr. Deg. Scr. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 0 0 12 0 0 0 4 18 The beginning 1 12 15 4 18 from the Aequator. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 1 2 12 30 8 34 8 25 Sinus Arabicus or 3 1 45 12 43 the Red Sea. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 2 4 13 0 16 43 7 50 Meroe an Iland of 5 13 15 20 33 Nilus in Aegypt. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 3 6 13 40 23 10 7 3 Siene a Citty in 7 13 45 27 36 Africa. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 4 8 14 0 30 47 6 9 Alexandria in 9 14 15 33 45 Aegypt. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 5 10 14 30 36 30 5 17 Rhodes and 11 14 45 39 2 Babylon. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 6 12 15 0 41 22 4 30 Rome and 13 15 15 43 32 h.e.l.lespont. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 7 14 15 30 45 29 3 48 Venice and 15 15 45 47 20 Millaine. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 8 16 16 0 49 21 3 13 Podalia and the 17 16 15 50 33 lesser Tartary. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 9 18 16 30 51 58 2 44 Batavia and 19 16 45 53 17 Wittenberge. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 10 20 17 0 54 29 2 17 Rostoch. 21 17 15 55 34 +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 11 22 17 30 56 37 2 0 Ireland and 23 17 45 57 34 Moscovy. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 12 24 18 0 58 26 1 40 Bohus a Castle 25 18 15 59 1 in Norwey. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 13 26 18 30 59 59 1 26 Gothland. 27 18 45 60 40 +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 14 28 19 0 61 18 1 13 Bergia in 29 19 15 61 53 Norwey. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 15 30 19 30 62 25 1 0 Wiburge in 31 19 45 62 54 Finland. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 16 32 20 0 63 22 0 52 Arotia in 33 20 15 63 46 Sweden. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 17 34 20 30 64 6 0 44 The mouth of 35 20 45 64 30 Darecally a riv. of Swed[~e]. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 18 36 21 0 64 49 0 36 Diverse places 37 21 15 65 6 in Norwey. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 19 38 21 30 65 21 0 29 Suetia, Alba 39 21 45 65 35 Russia. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 20 40 22 0 65 47 0 22 With many Ilands. 41 22 15 65 57 +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 21 42 22 30 66 6 0 17 Thereunto 43 22 45 66 14 adioyning. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 22 44 23 0 66 20 0 11 Wanting speciall 45 23 15 66 25 names. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 23 46 23 30 66 28 0 5 And Landmarkes. 47 23 45 66 20 +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ 24 48 24 0 66 31 0 0 Island vnder the Articke circle. +------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+ Here the Climats Menses These Climats are supposed are accounted by +---------+-----------+ to pa.s.se by diverse Ilands the months from 1 67 15 within the Articke circle 66 Degr. 31 min. +---------+-----------+ as Groenland, Island, where the day is 2 69 30 Greenland: wherein as yet 24 houres vnto +---------+-----------+ for the narrownesse of the Pole it selfe 3 73 20 these climats comming set at 90 Degrees+---------+-----------+ neere together, and the where the 4 78 20 vncertainty of artificiall day +---------+-----------+ observation no is sixe Months. 5 84 0 speciall places haue beene +---------+-----------+ a.s.signed as to the other. 6 90 0 +-----------------+---------+-----------+-----------------------------+

1 The vse of this table is easie. In the first Culumne are contained the names and number of the Climats. In the second the Paralells which enclose it on each side, and deuide it in the middest. For the paralells here are drawne by euery halfe houres encrease.

The third Columne is the length of the Day in Summer, in euery Climate, which from 12. houres encreaseth by halfe houres to 24.

houres after by moneths, from one moneth to sixe.

The fourth containes the degrees of lat.i.tude, how farre euery climate lies from the aequinoctiall.

The fift contaynes the s.p.a.ce or breadth of euery Climate, how many degrees or minutes it takes vp vpon the Earth.

The sixt containes some notable places by which the Climats pa.s.se.

2 Hereby it is easie to know what the longest Day is in any Place of the worlde whose lat.i.tude is knowne. Or contrarily the longest Day being knowne to know the lat.i.tude. For example Oxford hath lat.i.tude 52.0. degrees longitude 24.0. In the table I finde that 52. degrees of Lat.i.tude lie in the 9th Climate wherein the day is 16. houres and a halfe longe. So much I say the Day is at Oxford in Summer. The place of Oxford in the Haemisphere is at (_V_.)

3 Vpon Globes the Climats are not vsually described, but are noted out vpon the brazen Meridian. So also in vniversall mappes they are seldome drawne, to avoide confusion of many lines together, but they are many times marked out on the limbe or edge of the mappe.

CAP. 6.

_Of the measuring of the earth._

Wee are now come to the last point concerning the measuring of the Earth, which is two fold. Either of the { 1 Whole earth.

{ { 2 Severall parts thereof, and their distance one from { another.

Concerning the first it is but a needlesse labour to recount the diversity of opinions that haue beene held from time to time by learned Geographers. What is the compa.s.se and depth of the earth.

This may be seene in _Hues de vsu Globi, part. 3. cap. 2._ and in _Clavius_ on _Sacrobosco_ with others. They all differ so much one from another, that there is no certainty in trusting any of them. The most common and received opinion is that the circuit of the earth is 21600 miles, reckoning 60 miles for every degree, and then the depth or Diameter of the Earth shall be 6877 English miles, containing 5000 foote in a mile.

The means wherby the circuit and Diameter of the earth are found out are princ.i.p.ally two.

1 By measuring North or South, vnder one Meridian some good quant.i.ty of ground, threescore or an hundred miles (or two for the more certainty) for in those petty observations of small distances there can be no certaine working. This may be done, though it be laborious, yet exactly without any sensible error by a skilfull workeman, plotting it out vpon his paper, with due heed taken, that hee often rectifie the variation of the needle (by which he travells) vpon due observation, and that all notable ascents and descents, with such winding and turning as the necessity of the way causeth, be reduced to one streight line. By this means wee shall know how many miles in the Earth answering to a degree in the Heauens; if exact observation by large instruments be made to finde the elevation of the pole, in the first place where wee begin to measure, and the last where wee make an end.

Besides this way of measuring the circ.u.mference of the Earth, there is none other that hath any certainty of observati[~o] in it. That by Eclipses is most vncertain, for a little error in a few minuts of time (which the observers shall not possibly avoide) breeds a sensible and fowle error in the distance of the two places of observation. That of _Eratosthenes_ by the Sunne beames, and a shadow of a stile or gnomon set vpon the Earth, is as bad as the other. For both the vncertainty of the calculation in so small quant.i.ty as the shadow and the gnomon must needs haue, and the difficulty to obserue the true length of the shadow, as also the false supposition wherevpon it proceeds, taking those lines for Paralells which are not, doe manifestly shew the reckoning hereby made to be doubt full and not sure.

2 The second is by measuring the semidiameter of the Earth: For as the circ.u.mference makes knowne the diameter, so doth this the circ.u.mference. This may be done by observation made vpon some great hill, hard by the sea side. The invention is of _Maurolycus Abbot_ of _Messava_ in _Sicilie_, but it hath beene perfitted, and more exactly performed by a worthy Mathematician _Ed. W._ who himselfe made proofe of it. By this art was the semidiameter of the Earth found out to be 18312621 foote: which allowing 5000 foot to a mile is 3662 & a halfe miles, which doubled is the whole Diameter 7325 miles. The circuit of the earth shall be 23030 miles, and one degree containes 63-35/36 miles which is almost 64 miles. Which as it exceeds the ordinary account, so may wee rest vpon it as more exact then any other.

2 The second point concerninge the measuringe of particular distances of places one from another is thus performed.