The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Fifthly, We cannot conclude this complexion in Nations from the vicinity
or habitude they hold unto the Sun; for even in _Africa_ they be
_Negroes_ under the Southern Tropick, but are not all of this hue either
under or near the Northern. So the people of _Gualata_, _Agades_,
_Garamantes_, and of _Goaga_, all within the Northern Tropicks are not
_Negroes_; but on the other side about _Capo Negro_, _Cefala_, and
_Madagascar_, they are of a jetty black.
Now if to salve this Anomaly we say the heat of the Sun is more powerful
in the Southern Tropick, because in the sign of Capricorn fals out the
Perigeum or lowest place of the Sun in his Excentrick, whereby he
becomes nearer unto them than unto the other in Cancer, we shall not
absolve the doubt. And if any insist upon such niceties, and will
presume a different effect of the Sun, from such a difference of place
or vicinity, we shall ballance the same with the concernment of its
motion, and time of revolution, and say he is more powerful in the
Northern Hemisphere, and in the Apogeum; for therein his motion is
slower, and so his heat respectively unto those habitations, as of
duration, so also of more effect. For, though he absolve his revolution
in 365 days, odd hours and minutes, yet by reason of Excentricity, his
motion is unequal, and his course far longer in the Northern Semicircle,
than in the Southern; for the latter he passeth in a 178 days, but the
other takes him a 187, that is, eleven days more. So is his presence
more continued unto the Northern Inhabitants; and the longer day in
Cancer is longer unto us, than that in Capricorn unto the Southern
Habitator. Beside, hereby we only infer an inequality of heat in
different Tropicks, but not an equality of effects in other parts
subjected to the same. For, in the same degree, and as near the earth he
makes his revolution unto the _American_, whose Inhabitants
notwithstanding partake not of the same effect. And if herein we seek a
relief from the Dog-star, we shall introduce an effect proper unto a
few, from a cause common unto many; for upon the same grounds that Star
should have as forcible a power upon _America_ and _Asia_; and although
it be not vertical unto any part of _Asia_, but only passeth by _Beach_,
_in terra incognita_; yet is it so unto _America_, and vertically
passeth over the habitations of _Peru_ and _Brasilia_.
Sixthly, And which is very considerable, there are _Negroes_ in _Africa_
beyond the Southern Tropick, and some so far removed from it, as
Geographically the clime is not intemperate, that is, near the Cape of
good Hope, in 36 of the Southern Latitude. Whereas in the same elevation
Northward, the Inhabitants of _America_ are fair; and they of _Europe_
in _Candy_, _Sicily_, and some parts of _Spain_, deserve not properly so
low a name as _Tawny_.
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