The earth floats in the middle of a vortex,1572 the outer extremity of which is somewhat beyond the moon. The vortex is globular, corresponding to the form of the earth, with slight differences, which will be pointed out further on. Vortices are not all closed at the ends; some are open at both ends.

The vortex, by its own axial motion, turns the earth on its axis. Consequently the outer part of the vortex has greater velocity than near the earth‘s surface, which has an axial motion of one thousand miles an hour.

The moon has a vortex surrounding it also, which has a rotation axially once a month, but being an open vortex does not turn the moon. All vortices do not lie in contact with the planet, in which case it is called a dead planet. The radius of the moon‘s vortex is ten times the moon‘s diameter, and the radius of the earth‘s vortex thirty times the earth‘s diameter, with variations that will be explained presently.

The outer rim of the earth‘s vortex, forty-two thousand miles broad, [which width carries the moon‘s vortex –ed.],1573 has a revolution axially with the earth once a month. The swiftest part of the earth‘s vortex is therefore about fifteen thousand miles this side of the orbit of the moon.1574 Thus the vortex, being rotary, also pushes in toward the axis and center (this push also being called vortexya). || And while substance is thus being built up (concentrated) at the center, the vortexian current, once it reaches the center, continues to an area of less pressure, which is at the poles—and this pressure to the poles is called m‘vortexya.

From the swiftest part of the earth‘s vortex, its force is towards the earth‘s center. And if there were no earth here at present, the vortex would make one presently.

Things do not fall to the earth because of the magnetism (attraction) of the earth, except as will be mentioned further on, but they are driven toward the center of the vortex, by the power of the vortex.

The greater diameter of the vortex is east and west; the lesser diameter north and south, with an inclination and oscillation relatively like the earth.