

ADVERTISEMENT. 



^ I ^ HIS work, or rather fragment, was begun 

 I in the year 1769. The defcriptive part 



fell to my fhare : the expence of the plates was 

 divided between Mr. Banks, now Sir Joseph 

 Banks, Baronet ; John Gideon Loten, Efq; a go- 

 vernor in Ceylon ; and myfelf. Twelve only were 

 engraved and publifhed : foon after which, the un- 

 dertaking appeared fo arduous that the deiign was 

 given over. It would be injuftice to Mr. Loten not 

 to fay, that the etchings are taken from his fine col- 

 ledion of drawings made in India : for he alleviated 

 the cares of life with the delicious purfuits of the ftu- 

 dy of Nature. I prevaled on my two friends to 

 unite with me in prefenting the learned John Rein- 

 hold Forster with the plates. I alfo beflowed 



a on 



