INTRODUCTION. 



HOWEVER little the reader may be converfant with an- 

 cient hiftories, in all probability he will know, or have 

 heard this much in general, that the attempt to reach the 

 Source of the Nile, the principal fubject of this publication, 

 from very early ages interefted all fcientific nations : Nor 

 was this great objed: feebly profecuted, as men, the firft for 

 wifdom, for learning, and fpirit (a moft neceflary qualifica- 

 tion in this undertaking) very earneflly interefted themfelves 

 about the difcovery of the fources of this famous river, till 

 difappointment followed difappointment fo faft, and confe- 

 quences produced other confequencesfo fatal, that the defign 

 was entirely given over, as having, upon the faireft trials, ap- 

 peared impracticable. Even conquerors at the head of im- 

 menfe armies, who had firft discovered and then fubdued great 

 part of the world, were forced to lower their tone here, and 

 dared fcarcely to extend their advances toward this difcovery, 

 beyond the limits of bare wiflaes. At length, if it was not 

 forgot, it was however totally abandoned from the caufes 

 above mentioned, and with it all further topographical in- 

 quiries in that quarter. 



Upon the revival of learning and of the arts, the curiofity 



of mankind had returned with unabated vigour towards 



Vol. I. a this 



