INTRODUCTION. xi 



perfect one, in my unfortunate fhipwreck at Bengazi *, the 

 ancient Berenice, on the fhore of Cyrenaicum ; and this was 

 of infinite fervice to me in my journey to Palmyra. 



Thus far a great part of my wants were well fupplied, at 

 leaflfuch ascould be forefeen, but Iflilllabouredunderrnany. 

 Befides that lingle province of ruined architecture, there 

 remained feveral others of equal importance to the public. 

 The natural hiftory of the country, the manners and lan- 

 guages of the inhabitants, the hiftory of the heavens, by a 

 conftant obfervation of, and attention to which, a ufeful 

 and intelligible map of the country could be obtained, weiv 

 objects of the utmofl confequence. 



Packing and repacking, mounting and rectifying thefe 

 inflruments alone, befides the attention and time necefTary 

 in ufing them, required what would have occupied one man, 

 if they had been continual, which they luckily were not, 

 and he fufficiently inftructed. I therefore endeavoured to 

 procure fuch a number of afliitants, that mould each bear 

 his fliare in thefe feveral departments ; not one only, but 

 three or four if poflible. I was now engaged, and part of 

 my pride was to iliew, how eafy a thing it was to difappoint 

 the idle prophecies of the ignorant, that this expedition would 

 be fpent in pleafure, without any profit to the public. I wrote 

 to feveral correfpondents,MrLumifden,Mr Strange,Mr Byers, 

 and others in different parts of Italy, acquainting them of my 

 fituation, and begging their affiftance. Thefe gentlemen 

 kindly ufed their utmofl endeavours, but in vain. 



b 2 It 



This will be explained afterwards. 



