PREFACE. 'v 



fey perfons of eftabliflied reputation for learning, and 

 in equal efteem for their probity. But the valiie of the 

 prefent is much enhanced, if thefe voyages or travels 

 refped countries little known, the coafts of which only, 

 perhaps, have been accidentally Vifited by feamen, or 

 harralTed arid plundered by privateers, perfons often 

 of fufpe(5led faith, and almoft always of very limited 

 capacities. Some few exceptions indeed there may be 

 to this general rule ; but even in regard to thefe, there 

 \Vill be necelTarily great defedls ; and allowing tHem 

 their highefl: merit, they can only report truly the lit- 

 tle they have feen : and what idea can we form of a 

 Turkey carpet, if we look only at the border, or, it 

 may be, at the felvage ? 



The authors, whofe writings are now offered to the 

 public in an Englilh drefs, are men of the moft refpefla- 

 ble characters, men diftinguifhed for their parts and 

 learning, and yet more for their candour and integri- 

 ty : men who did not travel through accident, but by 

 choice ; and this not barely their own, but approved 

 by authority, and approved becaufe they were knowa 

 to be equal to the ta& they undertook \ and that talk 

 was, the examining'every thing they went to fee, with 

 all poffible care and fcrupulous attention, in order to 

 furnifh the public with fuch lights as might be entire- 

 ly and fafely depended on. This xvas the defign which 

 they undertook ; this defign they executed with the 

 circumfpe6tion it deferved ; and the pundluality with 

 which they difcharged it, has procured them the juft 

 returns of favour from their royal mailer, and the ap- 

 plaufe and approbation of the beft judges in their own 

 and other countries. Thefe are circumftances that 

 diftihguifli, in a very fingular degree, the following 

 work ; circumftances that, no doubt, will have their 

 proper weight, and which it would be entirely needlefs 

 for us to enforce,-though it would have been inexcufa- 

 bJe not to have mentioned them, 



a 3 There 



