( 3'3 ) 



FOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA, 



DESCRIBING AT LARGE 



THE SPANISH CITIES, TOWNS, PROVINCES, &c. ON THAT EXTENSIVE 



CONTINENT : 



Undertaken, by command of the King of Spain, by Don George Juan, and Don Antonio 

 DE Ulloa, Cajgtaiins of the Spanifli Navy, Fellows of the Royal Society of London, Mem- 

 bers of^he Royal Academy at Paris, &c. &c. — Tranflated from the original Spanifh ; with 

 Notes and Obfervations ; and an Account of the Brazils. 



By John Adams, Efq. of Waltham Abbey ; ivho reftdedfeveral Tears in thoje Parts* 



PREFACE. 



TT is certainly a very true, as well as trite obfervation, that knowledge is the food of 

 "*• the mind ; and if this be fo, then certainly that ought to have the preference, which 

 is at once equally nutritive and pleafant. On this account, books of voyages and travels 

 have been in fuch general efleem, and at the fame time have been commended by perfons 

 of the greatefl fagacity, and in the higheft reputation for fuperior underftanding. The 

 pleafantnefs of this kind of reading has attracted many, who had before no relifh for learn- 

 ing, and brought them by degrees to enter upon feverer inquiries, in order more effedlually 

 to gratify that curiofity which this kind of ftudy naturally excites. Men of higher abilities 

 have turned their thoughts on this fubjeft, from the confideration of its real utility. This 

 induced the ingenious Hakluyt to make that noble colledion, which procured him the 

 patronage of Queen Elizabeth's ableft minifter. This led the elder Thevenot, to enrich 

 the French language with a very copious collection of the fame kind. And, not to 

 multiply examples, this made voyages and travels the favourite ftudy of the judicious 

 Locke, who looked upon it as the beft method of acquiring thofe ufeful and pradical 

 lights, that ferve moft effedually to ftrengthen, and alfo to enlarge the human under- 

 ftanding. 



It is indeed true, that in refped to this, as well as other branches of fciences, there 

 have been many productions, which for a time have been applauded and admired, and 

 which, notwithftanding, have ferved rather to miflead, than to inftruft men's minds, 

 by a difplay of fpecious falfehoods, highly acceptable to fuch as read merely for amufe- 

 ment. But thefe authors of marvellbus, and very often incredible relations ; of ftrange 

 and furprifing adventures ; thefe pompous defcribers of wonderful curiofities, which men 



* This tranflation has pafled through five Editions. 

 VOL. XJV. S S of 



