s 



INTRODUCTION. Ixvit 



haps, were it not for thefe blemifhes, would find no other en- 

 joyment in the perufal of the work. 



It has been faid that parties have been formed againft 

 this work. Whether this is really the cafe I cannot fay, nor 

 have I ever been very anxious in the inquiry. They have 

 been harmlefs adverfaries at leaft, for no bad effects, as far 

 as I know, have ever as yet been the confequences ; neither 

 is it a difquifition that I ihall ever enter into, whether this is 

 owing to the want of will or of power. I rather believe it is 

 to the former, the want of will, for no one is fo perfectly 

 inconfiderable, as to want the power of doing mifchief. 



Having now fulfilled my promife to the reader, in giv- 

 ing him the motive and order of my travels, and the reafon 

 why the publication has been delayed, I fhall proceed to the 

 laft article promifed, the giving fome account of the work 

 itfelf. The book is a large one, and expenfive by the num- 

 ber of engravings ; this was not at firft intended, but the 

 journey has proved a long one, and matter has increafed as it 

 were infenfibly under my hands. It is now come to fill a 

 great chafm in the hiftory of the univerfe. It is not intend- 

 ed to refcmble the generality of modern travels, the agree- 

 able and rational amufement of one vacant day, it is calcu- 

 lated to employ a greater fpace of time. 



Those that are the beft acquainted with Diodorus, Hero- 

 dotus, and fome other Greek hiflorians, will find fome very 

 confidcrable difficulties removed ; and they that are unac- 

 quainted with thefe authors, and receive from this work the 

 firfl information of the geography, climate, and manners of 

 thefe countries, which are little altered, will have no great 



i 2 occafion 



