[p. 34]there. They drink the hot and stagnant waters,
both when rendered putrid by the sun, and when swollen with rains.
The Phasis itself is the most stagnant of all rivers, and runs the
smoothest; all the fruits which spring there are unwholesome, feeble
and imperfect growth, owing to the redundance of water, and on this
account they do not ripen, for much vapor from the waters overspreads
the country. For these reasons the Phasians have shapes different
from those of all other men; for they are large in stature, and of
a very gross habit of body, so that not a joint nor vein is visible;
in color they are sallow, as if affected with jaundice. Of all men
they have the roughest voices, from their breathing an atmosphere
which is not clear, but misty and humid; they are naturally rather
languid in supporting bodily fatigue. The seasons undergo but little
change either as to heat or cold; their winds for the most part are
southerly, with the exception of one peculiar to the country, which
sometimes blows strong, is violent and hot, and is called by them
the wind cenchron. The north wind scarcely reaches them, and when
it does blow it is weak and gentle. Thus it is with regard to the
different nature and shape of the inhabitants of Asia and Europe.
PART 16
And with regard to the pusillanimity and cowardice of the inhabitants,
the principal reason the Asiatics are more unwarlike and of gentler
disposition than the Europeans is, the nature of the seasons, which
do not undergo any great changes either to heat or cold, or the like;
for there is neither excitement of the understanding nor any strong
change of the body whereby the temper might be ruffled and they be
roused to inconsiderate emotion and passion, rather than living as
they do always in the state. It is changes of all kinds which arouse
understanding of mankind, and do not allow them to get into a torpid
condition. For these reasons, it appears to me, the Asiatic race is
feeble, and further, owing to their laws; for monarchy prevails in
the greater part of Asia, and where men are not their own masters
nor independent, but are the slaves of others, it is not a matter
of consideration with them how they may acquire military discipline,
but how they may seem not to be warlike, for the dangers are not equally
shared, since they must serve as soldiers,
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