8. The celerity of the motion with which, according to the Copernican hypothesis, every place constantly revolves.
The terrestrial properties are those observed in the face of the country, and are 10 in number.
| 1. | The limits and bounds of each country. | |||||
| 2. | - | Its | - | figure; | ||
| 3. | magnitude; | |||||
| 4. | mountains; | |||||
| 5. | waters, viz. springs, rivers, lakes, and bays; | |||||
| 6. | woods and deserts. | |||||
| 7. | The fruitfulness and barrenness of the country, with its various kinds of fruits. | |||||
| 8. | - | The | - | minerals and fossils; | ||
| 9. | living creatures there; | |||||
| 10. | longitude and latitude of the place. | |||||
The third kind of observations to be made in every country is called human, because it chiefly regards the inhabitants of the place. It consists of 10 specific branches.
| 1. | The stature, shape, color, and the length of their lives; their origin, meat and drink. | |||||
| 2. | Their arts, and the profits which arise from them, with the merchandize they barter one with another. | |||||
| 3. | Their virtues and vices, learning, capacities, and schools. | |||||
| 4. | Their ceremonies at births, marriages, and funerals. | |||||
| 5. | The language which the inhabitants use. | |||||
| 6. | - | Their | - | political government. | ||
| 7. | religion and church government. | |||||
| 8. | cities and famous places. | |||||
| 9. | remarkable histories and antiquities. | |||||
| 10. | Their famous men, artificers, and inventions of the natives. | |||||
These are the three kinds of occurrences to be explained in special geography.
The principles of Geography, or those from which arguments are drawn for the proving of propositions in that science, are, according to the best authors, of three sorts.
1. Geometrical, arithmetical, and trigonometrical propositions.
2. Astronomical precepts and theorems.
3. Experience, being that upon which the greatest part of geography, and chiefly the special is founded.