t vii ] 
ed as Immutable truths, merely becaufe 
they are ancient. But when a writer, feized 
with a mania for a certain fcience, has not 
in himfelf fufficient refources to extend its 
progrefs ; when, immured in his cabinet^ he 
pretends to eftablifli principles and diftate 
laws; when he proftitutes the valuable 
gifts of genius to propagate old errors, and 
to cover, with the graces of elocution, lies 
received as truths by our forefathers ; how- 
ever he may difguife, twifl, or appropri- 
ate them^ to himfelf, I cannot forgive him 
whilft he thus evidently adorns himfelf 
with the fpoils of others, whatever trouble 
he may have taken to arrange the different 
patches. 
Fully refolvedtofpeakonly of what I have 
feen or done, I fhall introduce nothing 
into this work which is not my own ; and 
on this account I fhall certainly not be re- 
proached for the faults of thofe who pre- 
ceded me. 
If in fome places of my relation obfer- 
vations be found diametrically oppofite to 
thofe of other travellers, I fhall not go fo far 
as to affert that they have been deceived : I 
mean to depreciate no one; I choofe rather 
b a to 
