TL Hoek 
PREFACE. 
T is now Eighteen Years fince I went Phyficic cian to the Duke 
of Albemarle to Jamaica. I had from my Youth been very 
much pleasd with the Study of Plants, and other Parts of 
Nature, and had feen moft of thofe Kinds of Curiofiti ities, which 
were to be found either in the Fields, or in the Gardens or Cabinets of 
the Curious in thefe Parts. The Accounts of ‘thefe ftrange Things, 
which I met with in Collections, and, was inform'd, ‘were common in 
the Weft-Indies, were not fo fatisfactory as I defired. I was Young, 
and could not be fo eafy, if Thad not the pleafure to fee what I bad 
heard fo much of, efpecially fince it had been a great contentment to 
me, to fee many things caltrvated in Englifh Gardens which I had feen 
grow wild in other Countries, whereof I conceived my felf afterwards 
to be better apprisd, than I was of fuch as I had not feen common in 
the. Fields, and in plenty. _ I thought by that means the Ideas of. them 
would be better imprinted in my Mind, and that, upon occafs on, both 
the knowledge of them and their Ufes. might be afterwards more familiar 
to me. ‘Thefé Inclinations remain'd with me fome time aftgr I bad 
-— fettled'my felf to prattife Phyfic in London, and had had the Honour 
to be admitted\a Fellow of the, College of Phyfici cians, aswell as of the 
Royal Society... Thefe unmerited Favours did not at all alter my 
mind; but rather incited me to do what I could to be no ufele/s Monber. 
but-to ca/t in my Mite towards the Advancement of Natural Knowlege, 
and the Faculty, of Ph hyfic, ic, and_by. that means endeavour to deferve a 
Place amongft fo many Great. and Worthy Perfons : This Voyage feem d 
likewife to promife.to be ufe ful to me, asa Phyfician ; many of the 
Antient and. beft.. Phyficians haying travelld to the Places whence 
their, Drugs were brought, to inform themfelves concerning them. 
His Grace the Duke of Albemarle having obtaind I the fupreme 
Command of the Ifland of Jamaica, “and other Parts of Englifh- 
A America 
