uced in heavier tones. Thus it is obvious that
the system of the universe as a whole is, on account of the inclination
of the heaven, composed in a most perfect harmony through the temporary
power of the sun.

7. The nations, therefore, that lie midway between the pivots at the
southern and the northern extremities of the axis, converse in a voice
of middle pitch, like the notes in the middle of a musical scale; but,
as we proceed towards the north, the distances to the heaven become
greater, and so the nations there, whose vocal utterance is reduced by
the moisture to the "hypates" and to "proslambanomenon," are naturally
obliged to speak in heavier tones. In the same way, as we proceed from
the middle point to the south, the voices of the nations there
correspond in extreme height of pitch and in shrillness to the
"paranetes" and "netes."

8. That it is a fact that things are made heavier from being in places
naturally moist, and higher pitched from places that are hot, may be
proved from the following experiment. Take two cups which have been
baked in the same oven for an equal time, which are of equal weight, and
which give the same note when struck. Dip one of them into water and,
after taking it out of water, strike them both. This done, there will be
a great difference in their notes, and the cups can no longer be equal
in weight. Thus it is with men: though born in the same general form and
under the same all-embracing heaven, yet in some of them, on account of
the heat in their country, the voice strikes the air on a high note,
while in others, on account of abundance of moisture, the quality of
tones produced is very heavy.

9. Further, it is owing to the rarity of the atmosphere that southern
nations, with their keen intelligence due to the heat, are very free and
swift in the devising of schemes, while northern nations, being
enveloped in a dense atmosphere, and chilled by moisture from the
obstructing air, have but a sluggish intelligence. That this is so, we
may see from the case of snakes. Their movements are most active in hot
weather, when they have got rid of the chill due to moisture, whereas at
the winter solstice, and in winter weather, they are chilled by the
change of temperature, and rendered torpid and motionless. It is
therefore no wonder that man's intelligence is made keener by warm air
and duller by cold.

10. But although southern nations have the keenest wits, and are
infinitely cleve