INTRODUCTION. Ixix 



My leaving Egypt is followed by my furvey of the Ara- 

 bian gulf as far as the Indian Ocean — Arrival at Mafuah 

 — Some account of the firft peopling of Atbara and Abyflinia 

 —Conjectures concerning language — Firft ages of the In- 

 dian trade — Foundation of the Abyffinian monarchy, and 

 various revolutions till the Jewifh ufurpation about the year 

 900. fhefe compofe the firft volume. 



The fecond begins with the reftoration of the line of So- 

 lomon, compiled from their own annals, now firft tranflated 

 from the Ethiopic ; the original of which has been lod- 

 ged in the Britifh Mufeum, to fatisfy the curiofity of the 

 public. 



The third comprehends my journey from Mafuah to 

 Gondar, and the manners and cuftoms of the Abyffinians, 

 alfo two attempts to arrive at the fountains of the Nile— 

 Defcription of thefe fources, and of every thing relating to 

 that river and its inundation. 



The fourth contains my return from the fource of the 

 Nile to Gondar — The campaign of Serbraxos, and revolution 

 that followed — My return through Sennaar and Beja, or 

 the Nubian defert, and my arrival at Marfeilles. 



In overlooking the work I have found one circumftance, 

 and 1 think no more, which is not fufficiently clear, and 

 may create a momentary doubt in the reader's mind, al- 

 though to thole who have been fufficiently attentive to the 

 narrative, I can fcarce think it will do this. The diffi- 

 culty is, How did you procure funds to fupport yourfelf, 



and 



