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the obliquity of the zodiac from the appropriate tem¬
pérature of the sun. Hence those who are in the
middle, between the equator and the pole, are gifted
with a middle pitch of voice, similar to the tones in the
central part of the musical diagram. Advancing to the
northern nations, where the pole is more elevated, the
people, from an increased quantity of moisture, naturally
possess lower toned voices, similar to the hypaté and
proslambanomenos. And finally, those nations extend¬
ing from the middle regions to the south have shrill and
acute voices similar to the tones of paraneté and neté.
That the tone of the voice is rendered deeper by the
damp nature of a place, and higher by its being of a hot
nature, may be proved by the following experiment. Let
two vases be selected, both equally baked in a furnace.
of equal weight, and yielding the same tone, and one of
them be immersed in water and then taken out: let both
of them be then struck, and a great difference will be
perceived in the tones they yield, as well as an inequality
in their weight. Thus it is with the human body; for
although all men are born of the same form, and under
the same heaven, yet some from the warmth of the
climate are shrill in voice, and others from a super¬
abundance of moisture have a low tone of voice. So
moreover, from the clearness of the atmosphere, aided
also by the intense heat, the southern nations are more
ready and quick in expedients: but the northern nations.
oppressed by a gross atmosphere, and cooled by the
moisture of the air, are of duller intellect. That this is
so, may be proved from the nature of serpents, which in
the hot season, when the cold is dispelled by the heat.
move with great activity, but in the rainy and winter
seasons, from the coldness of the air, they become torpid.
Hence it is not surprising that man 's intellect should be
sharpened by heat and blunted by a cold atmosphere.
Though, however, the southern nations are quick in un-
derstanding, and sagacious in council, yet in point of
