n introduction; 



this object, but all attempts had met with the fame difficul- 

 ties as before, till, in the beginning of his Majefty's reign,. 

 the unconquerable fpirit raifed in this nation by a long and . 

 glorious war, did very naturally refolve itfclf into a fpiric 

 of adventure and inquiry at the return of peace, one of the. 

 firft- fruits of which was the di (cover y of thefe coy foun- 

 tains *, till now concealed from the world in general. 



The great danger and difficulties of this journey were 

 well known, but it was likewife known that it had been 

 completely performed without difappointment or misfoiv 

 tune, that it had been attended with an, apparatus of books 

 and inftruments, which feldom accompanies the travels of 

 an individual ; yet fixteen years had elapfed without any ac* 

 count appearing, which feemed to mark an unufual felf- 

 denial,.or an abfolute indifference towards the wifb.es of the 

 public*. 



Men, according; to their different genius and difpofitions, 

 attempted by different ways to penetrate the caufe of this 

 filence. The candid, the learned, that fpecies of men, in 



fine, 



* This epithet given to the fprings from which the Nile rifes, was borrowed from a vaj 

 elegant English poem that appeared in Dr Mary's Review for May 1786. It was fent 

 to me by my. friend Mr Barrington, to.whom it was attributed, although from modefty he 

 difclaims it. From whatever hand it comes, the poet is defired to . accept of my humbde 

 thanks. It was received with univerfal applaufe wherever it was circulated, and a conGdera- 

 ble number of copies was printed at the defire of the public. Accident feemed to have 

 placed it in Dr Maty's book with peculiar propriety, by having joined it to a fragment of 

 Anofto, then firft published, in the fame Review. It has fince been attributed to Mr Mafoo. 



